Fighting Cancer With The Common Cold?

Roland Piquepaille writes "After 30 years of work, Saint Louis University researchers have genetically engineered a common cold virus to fight cancerous cells while leaving unaffected healthy ones. They received a patent for this research and clinical tests on humans will start soon, according to this news release. Dr. William Wold, chair of the department of molecular microbiology and immunology, received the patent No. 6,627,190 for his work. Preclinical testing has already been done so clinical trials should start soon. We can only hope they will be successful. This overview contains many more details and references about this potential cure for all kinds of cancer. [Note: this is a very different project from the one mentioned by a previous Slashdot post.]"

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I'm conflicted again

[BiggerIsBetter]

It's great that this is possible, but I'm not sure it should be patented. What ever happened to research for the good of mankind, and academic recognition?

I know medical research is expensive and all, and inventors/researchers need protection from having their ideas stolen, but what it means is that the technology can be held to ransom by the patent holder. "Yes we can save you, but it'll cost you $5000 a week for the rest of your life, etc."

Dupe flameproofing

[Anonymous Coward]

[Note: this is a very different project from the one mentioned by a previous Slashdot post.]

How ironic that story submitters are now feeling the need to add flameproofing like this to their submissions, in fear of the duplicate article police.

Re:Antibiotics Cause Cancer

[corbettw]

If you look at the historical records, you will see a marked jump in the percent of people who die of cancer after the introduction of antibiotics.

Hmm, wonder if that's because people are suddenly *not* dying of cholera, tuberculosus, or the plague?

Food does the same thing. In times of famine and wars (for that matter) very few people die of cancer.

Wow, in times of famine, people don't die from cancer? Too bad they're all busy dying of starvation, they could've lived forever!

Too bad you had to lead off with such bizarre statements, since I find myself nodding to just about everything else (including the critique of the overuse of anti-biotics, and that getting the sniffles once in awhile is a good thing).