Could ecstasy cure cancer?

copeyhagen

http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2011/08/19/could-ecstasy-cure-cancer/

It's got a bad reputation as a party drug, but scientists now believe that ecstasy could help to cure some blood cancers.

Scientists have known for some time that the drug can kill some cancer cells, but they now believe it to be 100 times more effective than originally thought.

A new study has shown that leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma cells could all be killed in a test tube, although treatment could still be a decade away.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, have chemically re-engineered ecstasy by taking some atoms away and putting new ones in their place.

One variant increased cancer-fighting effectiveness 100-fold. This means that if 100g of un-modified ecstasy was needed to get the desired effect, only 1g of the modified ecstasy would be needed.

Scientists say that this also reduces the toxic effect on the brain.

Lead researcher Professor John Gordon, from the University of Birmingham told the BBC: "Against the cancers, particularly the leukaemia, the lymphoma and the myeloma, where we've tested these new compounds we can wipe out 100 per cent of the cancer cells in some cases.

"We would really need to pinpoint which are the most sensitive cases, but it has the potential to wipe out the cancer cells in those examples.

"This is in the test tube, it could be different in the patient, but for now it's quite exciting."

Experts believe that the drug works because it is attracted to the fat in the membranes of the cancerous cells. Researchers think it makes the cells "a bit more soapy", which can break down the membrane and kill the cell.

However, doctors have no plans to prescribe modified ecstasy to patients in the near future as animal and clinical trials will be needed first.

cormie

I'm as serious as cancer when I say rhythm is a dancer!

dubsbhoy

someone's been nibbling on them E's

imagine getting paid to guinea pig this.....

Scientist:
Right there is a bag of pure MDMA, taxi fare, & drink money and a list of after parties

You to "her": I'm off out to get off me tits on a bag yokes

Her: have a good one i won't wait up

jtsuited

the news media never miss a beat when it comes to creating headlines.......here's the actual facts:
http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2011/08/19/is-ecstasy-being-developed-to-treat-blood-cancers-not-quite/

es-cee

dubsbhoy wrote: »

someone's been nibbling on them E's

imagine getting paid to guinea pig this.....

Scientist:
Right there is a bag of pure MDMA, taxi fare, & drink money and a list of after parties

You to "her": I'm off out to get off me tits on a bag yokes

Her: have a good one i won't wait up

sign me up

Logical Fallacy

dubsbhoy wrote: »

someone's been nibbling on them E's

imagine getting paid to guinea pig this.....

Well, you'd need to have Cancer first so i'll stick with the no cancer option.

As an aside, anyone else get a pang when they saw the Mitzis?

Obelisk

Logical Fallacy wrote:

As an aside, anyone else get a pang when they saw the Mitzis?

Indeed!

Well, it cures trance music so I can't see why not.

a148pro

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Well, you'd need to have Cancer first so i'll stick with the no cancer option.

You to her: I've got some awful news. I'm going to be diagnosed with cancer.

See you Tuesday afternoon.

dubsbhoy

a148pro wrote: »

You to her: I've got some awful news. I'm going to be diagnosed with cancer.

See you Tuesday afternoon.

sorted

jonnny68

cormie wrote: »

I'm as serious as cancer when I say rhythm is a dancer!

:D

ED E

es-cee wrote: »

sign me up

They'll be inhibiting all the fun side effects, why are these doctors so boring

EarlERizer

It'll make the giving of bad news alot easier....and easier to hear!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDzkAmwCo6Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THCj2AJuNVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncaNlxvTFzg

"Paging Dr Beat and Dr Greenthumb"

Daroxtar

Well, there's a strong belief and a lot of research been done over the last decade to see if it can cure Parkinsons. There was a brilliant Horizon special a few years back about a guy called Tim Lawrence who was diagnosed with parkinsons in his 30's. It shows what happens to him when he takes Ecstasy. Here's an arcticle by him.
http://ecstasy.org/info/parkinsons.html
I'm uploading the doc now, I'll stick the link in when its finished. Its a vhs rip so quality isn't great but I would seriously recommend it to anyone wanting to see some pretty mind blowing medical reactions. The reactions of the consultants/specialists watching him undergo a clinical test are priceless.

Daroxtar

My internet's been playing up the last few days and I can't upload the doc, however there's a link here to it for anyone interested. It really is worth a watch.
http://www.fileserve.com/file/DTtRbb2