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Virus Tamed To Attack Cancer, Cancer Drugs To Treat Alcoholism

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the and-alcohol-to-treat-the-common-cold dept.

ScienceDaily is reporting that scientists at Oxford University seem to have adapted a virus so that it attacks cancer cells but does not hurt healthy cells. "Adenovirus is a DNA virus widely used in cancer therapy but which causes hepatic disease in mice. Professor Len Seymour and colleagues found that introducing sites into the virus genome that are recognized by microRNA 122 leads to hepatic degradation of important viral mRNA, thereby diminishing the virus' ability to adversely affect the liver, while maintaining its ability to replicate in and kill tumor cells." Relatedly, cancer drugs already approved for use may be cross-functional as a treatment for alcohol addiction. "Now, the researchers show that flies and mice treated with erlotinib also grow more sensitive to alcohol. What's more, rats given the cancer-fighting drug spontaneously consumed less alcohol when it was freely available to them. Their taste for another rewarding beverage -- sugar water -- was unaffected."

4 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Pay more attention to comics and movies... by Yaddoshi · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Presumably these scientists have never heard of "I Am Legend"...

    1. Re:Pay more attention to comics and movies... by Harinezumi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because we all know that movie script writers always do their homework to get their science right and never ever engage in simple-minded fearmongering.

  2. Re:This doesn't seem right by Zapotek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, the human body is already full of bacteria and other helpful microbes without which it wouldn't be able to survive.
    We're not just "persons" we're mobile ecosystems.
    Although it may sound creepy at first, if you rationally think it through a virus that "makes you better" is not such a bad idea after all.
    Oh, I almost forgot, we are all injected with weakened viruses at some point of our lives so that our immune system will be able to form the right antibodies to defend itself when the real thing comes along.
    Think of it like that...

  3. Re:I know that nobody cares, but... by artor3 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I've never heard of this book, or any other cures for alcoholism. I don't know any alcoholics, nor do I have any particular concern for them. But I know that whenever someone comes out and claims to have a cure that the man is trying to keep down, it's likely to be a load of crap.

    But hey, if you believe in that, I have a carburetor for sale that'll give your car 200 mpg.