Ask A Scientist© Molecular Biology Archive

>
> >>  name       Daniel
> >>  status     other
> >>  age        30s
>
> >>  Question - As a former jounalist, I once came across an intriguing story regarding alternate protocols for the treatment of cancer. The story generated from research I had undertaken at Berkely on behalf of a friend who had requested my help.

> >>In short, I found several learned papers on the Chalone treatment.
> >>Briefly, the treatment -- which was successfully tested in Germany and at the Mason Clinic in Washington during the 1960-70's -- developed a method to speed up the growth of healthy cells such that they would surround, and
thus kill (if this is the right word) the karyotypic or cancerous cells in a given carcinogenic concentration.

I then contacted the Vice President of the AMA, who informed me that the Chalone treatment was once considered the magic bullet long sought after by cancer researchers. But, when pressed, he could not give me any
information regarding what ever became of the research, tests, and so on.

By no means am I a conspiracist -- i.e. I am not looking for a
journalistic scoop here, nor do I suspect any corporate, educational, or
ultr-national body of suppression. At the same time, however, I remain interested in the Chalone treatment and want to know whatever happened regarding it.

> >>If someone could help me out here, I'd appreciate it.

>
>I was able to find one website that mentioned chalones and cancer treatment
>on the internet at http://www.cancermed.com/br10re.html.  That site mentions
>that chalones had shown promise as anti-mitotic agents (chemicals to prevent
>or slow cell division), but their effect turned out to be much stronger on
>normal cells than on cancerous ones.
>
>I assume (not having read them) that those original studies used chalones
>alone. But their potential has not been forgotten. I searched PubMed (a
>searchable database of current medical and scientific publications) and
>found lots of current work still looking at chalones in combination with
>other drugs. For a little less technical a description, there was an
>article in Fortune magazine May 29, 2000 (by D. Stipp) you may want to check
>out as well.
>
>Christine Ticknor
>Ph.D. Candidate
>Yale University
>New Haven, Connecticut

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