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Cancer Drug Found; Scientist Annoyed

sporkme writes "A scientist was frustrated when the compound she was working with (called PPAR-gamma) destroyed her sample of cancer cells. Further research revealed that the substance was surprisingly well suited as a cancer treatment. Lab test results on mice resulted in the destruction of colon tumors without making the mice sick." Quoting: "'I made a calculation error and used a lot more than I should have. And my cells died,' Schaefer said. A colleague overheard her complaining. 'The co-author on my paper said, "Did I hear you say you killed some cancer?" I said "Oh," and took a closer look.' ... [They found that the compound killed] 'pretty much every epithelial tumor cell lines we have seen.'" Update: 02/15 17:27 GMT by KD : As reader CorporalKlinger pointed out, PPAR-gamma is a cellular receptor, not a compound; and this news is not particularly new.

35 of 349 comments (clear)

  1. Tag Article Thusly: by Gabrill · · Score: 5, Funny

    Best Headline ever!

    --
    Always going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse.
    1. Re:Tag Article Thusly: by ccarson · · Score: 1, Funny

      This is why we need more women in the work place. It's mistakes like this that really advance man kind.

  2. Homeresque by commisaro · · Score: 5, Funny

    "To pull a Homer": To succeed despite idiocy

  3. Now that is a true nerd by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can tell she is a true nerd because instead of saying "holy shit I cured cancer" she said "god damn it, now I have to start over."

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:Now that is a true nerd by Chris+Burke · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, sure, just like dishwashing detergent kills HIV.

      YES! Finally the answer to my prayers!

      It just also happens to kill the host if you take it intravenously.

      Shit! I need to read faster! Call 911 for me...

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  4. You have to wonder by antifoidulus · · Score: 3, Funny

    if the creator of Viagra had a similar epiphany

    1. Re:You have to wonder by false_cause · · Score: 5, Funny

      They missed one 'gina but hit millions of others.

    2. Re:You have to wonder by dr_dank · · Score: 4, Funny

      It was created with the intention of being an artificial tanning agent, at which it succeeded, but a large number of the test subjects, both male and female, reported highly increased sexual arousal during the tests.

      It's a cruel joke when you look like an overgrown carrot and have a raging boner.

      --
      Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
    3. Re:You have to wonder by Atrox666 · · Score: 3, Funny

      The inventor of LSD also had an epiphany like that ..then things started to melt.

  5. Alexander Fleming said it best by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Damn it! Who let the bacteria colonies get moldy? All of my staphylococcus samples died and now I have to start all over again."

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
  6. "Oh, you wanted to *cure cancer*!" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "I misheard you. Sure, I've been able to do that for years. Here you go."

    1. Re:"Oh, you wanted to *cure cancer*!" by QuestionMark+Greater · · Score: 2, Funny

      "All this time I've been trying to cure plaster."

  7. So are a fair percentage of "last words".... by StressGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    that and "hey y'all, watch this!"

    --
    A goal is a dream with a deadline
  8. Further investigation by rbarreira · · Score: 2, Funny

    Further investigation later revealed that the substance she had been using was in fact sulfuric acid...

    --

    The AACS key is NOT 0xF606EEFD628B1CA427BEA93A9CA9773F
  9. Re:Terrible article, facts wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You're not doing to much better. "RTFA'd the article", so you read the fucking article the article?

  10. Re:I found a cancer drug, darn it by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 4, Funny

    "how would you feel if a program was made that automatically created perfect code by letting your manager put in all his wishes"

    That would be fantastic! It would prove that mutually exclusive wishes can be programmed in. "I want it red" followed by "I don't like red" followed by "I wanted it red", followed by "I told you not red".

    Now if a program could code that, I would pay top dollar for it. Seriously.

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  11. Re:Typical science by roman_mir · · Score: 3, Funny

    what, they tried using a large microwave parabolic antenna to squeeze lemonade and invented a microwave? To celebrate they mixed some alcohol with orange juice, wanted to warm it up in the microwave and discovered napalm?

    So what you are saying is that if life hands you a lemon, use napalm?

  12. Funding cut by plopez · · Score: 3, Funny

    Watch her grants get cut since she is reporting a result she didn't write into the grant application.

    --
    putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
  13. I had a similar problem. by 91degrees · · Score: 4, Funny

    I tried making a perpetual motion machine, but it just kept getting faster and faster. I mean what use is a device that creates free energy? And it's just damn irritating when the fundamental laws of physics stop applying.

    1. Re:I had a similar problem. by Volante3192 · · Score: 2, Funny

      In this forum we obey the laws of thermodynamics!

  14. Re:Moo by Heem · · Score: 4, Funny

    at least they did not say Scientologist.

    --
    Don't Tread on Me
  15. Getting hungry, Jimmy? by spun · · Score: 4, Funny

    Jimmy: Uhh, Mr. McClure, I have a crazy friend who thinks it's wrong to call yourself a scientist if you don't have a sciencey type degree. Is he crazy?
    Troy: Nooooo, just ignorant. You see, your crazy friend never heard of "The Scientific Method." Just ask this scientician.
    Scientician: Uhhhh...
    Troy: He'll tell you that anyone who makes observations, creates theories based on them, tests the predicitons of those theories, and modifies the theories based on the tests is a scientist. Don't kid yourself, Jimmy. If that scientician ever got the chance, he'd study you and everyone you care about.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    1. Re:Getting hungry, Jimmy? by spun · · Score: 4, Funny

      Look at my uid. I've been here since before the karma cap. I neither need karma nor does being modded down hurt me in any way. Thanks for playing, though. Here's a copy of our home game, "Snide comments from the peanut gallery." Enjoy!

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    2. Re:Getting hungry, Jimmy? by Cervantes · · Score: 2, Funny

      Look at my uid. I've been here since before the karma cap. I neither need karma nor does being modded down hurt me in any way. Thanks for playing, though. Here's a copy of our home game, "Snide comments from the peanut gallery." Enjoy!

      pwned.

      Sucker.

      spun(1352) owns teh intarwebs for 5 minutes.

      --
      If I knew the wedgies I gave you back in 6th grade would have resulted in this . . . I might have taken a moments pause.
  16. You forgot... by eheldreth · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Hey, hold my beer!"

    --
    The perversity of the Universe tends towards a maximum. - O'Toole's Corollary
  17. Re:Moo by Chacham · · Score: 2, Funny

    Last I checked, scientists researched things to figure out how they worked.

    Guess you never watched The Adventures of Superman, or the Simpsons.

    To them, Scientists invent things, and than try to figure out why it worked. :)

  18. Re:Moo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Umm...last time I checked scientists aren't engineers

  19. Mouse Cancer by trongey · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can't believe they keep pouring so damn much money into research for curing mouse cancer. I mean, who cares if mice have cancer? They only live a couple of years anyway.
    Why don't they use some of this money to find cures for human diseases or world hunger, or something?

    --
    You never really know how close to the edge you can go until you fall off.
  20. Re:Moo by Intron · · Score: 5, Funny

    So let's just settle it. We will call scientists who don't know what they're doing "researchers" and scientists who do know what they are doing "engineers".

    --
    Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.
  21. Re:Terrible article, facts wrong by kalirion · · Score: 2, Funny

    The solution is quite simple. Develop a retro-virus which turns humans into mice, cure the cancer, and then work on turning the healthy mice human again.

  22. Re:BREAKING NEWS by Dunbal · · Score: 2, Funny

    There's a connection between the dead bimbo, PPAR molecule thingy, Barbados, cancer cells, unknown father of a baby, and mice.

          A Bahamian mouse claims that Hugh Hefner is the father of its baby after a "meeting" at a Playboy photoshoot. The mouse is dying of cancer, and wants Hugh to pay for treatment with the PPAR thingy? Can I get that job at the Inquirer now?

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  23. Re:PPAR-Gamma is a cellular receptor, not a compou by WwWonka · · Score: 1, Funny

    Sorry, but I haven't read the latest issue of "PPAR-gamma Receptor Weekly", so this IS news to me!

    Although I probably will pick up the current issue with the special tribute to Anna Nicole.

  24. How 'Unwanted side effects' labeling begins by Provocateur · · Score: 2, Funny

    Caution: Unwanted side effects may occur. Such as tanning. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
     

    --
    WARNING: Smartphones have side effects--most of them undocumented.
  25. Re:Moo by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ah yes, but the negative attitude is caused by the souls of dead space aliens who were brought to Earth, 75 million years ago, by an evil galactic ruler named Xenu in an attempt to solve galactic overpopulation. The cost for ridding yourself of these "body thetans" is $440 per hour, according to a recent price-list.

    --
    "But this one goes to 11!"
  26. Re:The headline is accurate, too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The scientist is still annoyed, because the compound is already patented, and thus will not be profitable as a cancer drug. Therefore, they will work on making another, possibly more toxic or less effective, formula rather than pushing for a human trial.

    Plus, it appears to be effective. Actually curing a condition instead of just treating the symptoms could get you sued or worse.