Tobacco Plants Grown for Cancer Treatment Research

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Smoking tobacco is known to be one of the leading causes of cancer, but new research at the University of Guelph could turn this cancer causing plant into a possible treatment in fighting the disease.  

Plants are being grown with a cancer fighting antibody called trastuzumab, which helps stop tumours from growing while providing a boost to the immune system. Trastuzumab made using tobacco plants is a low cost antibody, which is being explored as a possible cost effective option for future breast cancer treatment. Scientists aim to have trastuzumab on the market by 2016.

Tobacco plants are an ideal host for the production of therapeutic antibodies. Its biology and genetics have been well researched and are easy to grow. An added benefit is that tobacco plants aren’t grown for human consumption, which also reduces the risk of spreading unwanted bacteria into the food supply.

Researchers have completed trails on mice and found that the antibody was effective in reducing the size of breast cancer tumours. Scientists hope to begin conducting human clinical trials shortly. The lead researcher on the project is Dr. Chris Hall, who is a Canada Research Chair in Recombinant Antibody Technology.