Thalidomide helps fight cancer

There is now growing evidence that thalidomide, which was banned in the 1960s, could be an effective weapon against cancer.

The drug was marketed in the 1950s and 1960s as a cure for morning sickness. It was banned after mothers who took it gave birth to deformed children.In London researchers have discovered that drugs based on thalidomide can destroy cancer cells by forcing them to commit suicide. They believe the discovery could lead to the development of a new generation of powerful drugs to fight the disease. Recently a group of British doctors announced plans to carry out a major clinical trial to see if thalidomide can help patients with small cell lung cancer. European regulators are looking at studies which suggest it can help patients with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow, which affects about 20,000 patients in Europe each year. This latest study looked at a key compound of thalidomide called SeICIDs or selective cytokine inhibitory drugs.Professor Angus Dalgleish and colleagues at St George’s Hospital Medical School found that this compound can attack tumour cells directly and cause them to commit suicide. Dr Blake Marriott, one of the lead researchers, said healthy cells were unaffected. “We were surprised at the ability of this class of drug to kill cancer cells but leave normal cells apparently unaffected.” He added: “It is important to emphasise that this novel compound and SeICIDs in general are totally different to thalidomide. “Also, the most likely benefits will be when tailor-made combinations of these drugs are used, perhaps in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs.” (Source: BBC News)