Biotech Outline

Breast Milk Cures Cancer

Section 1:
-Svanborg began her research by observing how some proteins reacted with cancer cells
-hamlet kills up to 40 types of tumor cells
-they found that hamlet completely killed tumor cells in patients with bladder cancer
-A group of Svanborgs students actually made the discovery
-Her student was looking in how breastmilk fights viruses in tissue culture
-this treatment does not destroy healthy cells, unlike chemotherapy
-breastmilk as a treatment is almost finalized
-children who are breastfed are less likely to develop tumors than those who were not
-when breast milk was added to cancer cell culture and the protein in the milk caused them to
undergo apoptosis (cellular suicide)
-it shrunk brain tumors, prolonging life expectancy.
1) Cancer cells are used in cell culture because of their ability to multiply faster compared to
normal cells. Since they multiply faster, they have a longer lifespan.
2)
Section 2: Scientific Industry Reactions
They said that HAMLET would change the way scientists understand the beneficial
effects of human milk proteins and how they will help in the fight for cancer treatment
and prevention.
Her research and findings have opened new possibilities for more cancer research and
treatment.
She has been approached and asked to talk about her research and findings.
They began deeper research when Anders H. came to her with a discovery he made
while experimenting with mice, cancer cells, microbes, and mothers milk. they knew
they needed to do further research to prove what they had just found.
it was very surprising to other scientists that she would present something like this since
she specializes in infectious diseases
Wolf describes the many problems with many studies of breast feeding particularly with
those that focus on long term outcomes.
Dr. Olver warns against using unproven remedies at home, since HAMLET doesnt
occur naturally
Dr. Olver, says that people shouldnt expect a miracle from the breast milk.
Researchers are trying to find out how the drug would react with cell membranes
Previous experiments showed that HAMLET can kill 40 different types of cancer cells
HAMLET was discovered years ago recently tested in humans
Scientists found that after treatment patients were releasing dead cancer cell in their
Urine

 Researchers say that drug that destroy cancer cells is almost ready to go and is waiting
to go through the final test.
Roger Karson, from University of Gothenburg, said that it was discovered by accident.
(Questions) 1. What is meant by big scene and high profile research?
- This means that the research will either be very popular while it s going on or when it has
been completed. It also refers to the impact it might have on the science field whether
good or bad.
2. What and where is the National Cancer Institute? Where does the funding come from to
support the work of the institute? Discuss how scientific research is funded in Sweden.
How might funding be different there than in the U.S.?
- The National Cancer Institute regulates the cancer research, training, health information
dissemination, and other activities related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment of cancer.They also provide supportive care for cancer patients and their
families.The institute is funded by the federal government. The Swedish Cancer society is
a nonprofit organization.
3. Why did Dr. Solomon say that the novel ideas in science always challenge the current
paradigms? Isnt science supposed to be about new ideas? Try to justify what he meant
by this statement.
- this means that sometimes when a new idea or discovery comes out, it might be
contradicting from another well known and supported idea creating a skeptical view on
this new idea.
4. What does the discovery of cancer-killing effect of breast milk while looking for effects
on viruses tell you about the process of science?
- This tells me that we are still making an effort to try and find cures for cancer and other
deadly diseases. However we could be moving faster with the use of more funds.

Section 3:
(Research )

-HAMLET( Human Alpha-Lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumor Cells)

-starts a chain reaction that copies the immune system's natural ability to
cause bacteria cells to self destruct
-binds to bacteria and stops the flow of ions in and out of body cells
-blocks two enzymes that bacteria cells use to obtain energy
-Breast-fed children are more protected against cancer than formula-fed
children
-Breast milk has a growing hormone cause IGF-1 so it makes regular body
functions grow, but if there is cancer, than cancer can grow too
-Breast milk provides (protein, sugar, fat) protection against cancer cells from
developing in the future
-Benefits to immune system: antibodies
immune factors
enzymes

(Questions)

white blood cells

-Immune factors found in breast milk:
alpha: alpha-lactalbumin lipids
folate
alpha-lactoglobulin
zin
lactoferrin
lysozyme
ribonuclease
oligosaccharides
1.What are the contents of human breast milk and how does it differ from
commercially available milk from cows and soybeans?
Human breast milk contains more fat than cows milk and helps infants
increase their immune system for fighting off illnesses. Some unique factof breast milk is that through out the day its nutrition changes and adapts
to the infants needed nutrients as it begins to grow up. Breast milk is also
easy to digest and isnt one of the 8 most common food to cause allergies
unlike cow milk and soy beans.
2.Discuss the immune components of breast milk.
Breast milk has so many nutrients and proteins that improve the immune
system. Lymphocytes are one component found in breast milk which
attack a viruses wall.Immunoglobulins and Lactoferrin are also found in
breast milk which help strengthen the immune system and keep pathogens
away of prevent them. Lactoferrin also uses E. Coli. Alpha-Lactalbumin is
the most important protein in breast milk.
3.How does the fact that infants raised on breast milk were nine times less
susceptible than bottle-fed infants to lymphoma demonstrate that there may be a
link between something in human milk and cancer-cell destruction? Could there
be something other than the actual breast milk that lowered the rate of
lymphoma in breast-fed children? How can scientist be sure that the link is
actually related to breast milk? Discuss how these links are actually
substantiated by the scientific community.
There could be something else other than breast milk that lowered the rate
lymphoma in breast-fed children, but after all this research I think it would
be a little difficult to see if there is something else because all the child
consumes is the milk from the breast.
4.How does protein shape relate to function? How might shape be altered other
than changing pH of an environment?
The protein shape relates the the function depending on its amino acid
structure. The shape can be altered changing its salt concentration and
temperature. Also by breaking its bonds.
5.How do researchers mass produce a protein such as HAMLET through
genetic engineering?
Researchers mass produce HAMLET through genetic engineering by how

they mass produced human insulin.

6.Describe a mechanism whereby a protein actually causes cell death in tumor
cells and bacteria.
7.What are the disadvantages of modern chemotherapy in curing cancer? Why
would a naturally occurring protein be a great advance in treating cancer?
The disadvantages of modern chemotherapy is that they cause other body
functions to weaken. It breaks down the cancer but other body functions
being to break down as well. Naturally occurring protein would be better
in treating cancer because besides killing the cancer cells it is also
improving the immune system.
Section 4- From the Lab to the Pharmacy
Questions about Science and Economics
1. Why would a scientist like Dr. Svanborg be reluctant to publish too soon an Idea that
breast milk fights cancer? Publishing an Idea too soon can create hype for a drug that is
not yet secured to even be tested.
2. Why is testing done in three stages? Why cant the process be hurried up if it is known
that a substance can kill cancer cells and ultimately cure many people with a dreaded
disease? What is the procedure for clinical testing of a potential new therapeutic agent in
the U.S. and in other countries if it is categorized as an orphan? The testing is done in
three stages to test its safety with animals to avoid any human harm. This process cant
be hurried because the FDA has to approve the testing was safe for both humans and
animals. Clinical testing first goes through animals then humans, the testing for humans
is normally done in 3 phases first the testing is done on healthy humans then on a larger
group of people with a certain illness, the last phase is done on a large group of people to
test results on a larger scale.
3. Why might drug companies be reluctant to support research on HAMLET? How might
the caution of drug companies actually delay scientific progress? Drug companies tend to
be reluctant because the process for both research and testing tend to be expensive with
no promises this causes limited research as the budget for research will not increase
causing a delay.
4. How would drug companies come to support a laboratory such as Dr. Svanborg's? The
only way that a company would support a lab like this is to know that the drug may work
and promise much income
5. Is the alpha-Iac discovery patentable? Yes
6. If Dr.Svanborg and a drug company were to team up, who would claim the rights to this
treatment methodology? The company that Dr. Svanborg teamed up with would take the
rights
7. If drug companies do not decide to pursue the development of the alpha-Iac treatment,
could or should cancer patients take matters into their own hands and attempt to purchase
human breast milk directly from lactating women? What implications might that practice

rise? If companies didnt want to pursue the development of alpha-Iac, people should not
go and purchase human breast milk because this will cause the misunderstanding that
breast milk itself can cure cancer which is not the case in this drug because it needs to be
modified to target the cancerous cells.
The United States spends more than $2 trillion on health care and $89 billion on cancer care
alone.
A company can expect to have spent $350 million before the medicine is available
Pharmaceutical companies that work on dozens of drug projects at once spend $5 billion per new
medicine.
In the United States, it takes an average of 12 years for an experimental drug to be approved and
make it to the market.
The FDA requires preclinical testing (first tried on animals) then, depending on results, can be
moved to testing on Humans
Human testing is tried in three phases:
1. studies are carried out in healthy patients with 20 to 80 healthy volunteers to test new side
effects
2. Testing the effectiveness is carried out on a larger scale of people with a particular illness
or condition
3. This phase is basically phase 2 but it is to prove the effectiveness of the drug with a
larger group of people that can range up to 3,000 patients
After clinical phases every company must submit the New Drug Application (NDA). In which
they report the drugs effectiveness and dangers
Fewer than 1 in 10 medicines that start being tested in human clinical trials succeed
Clinicians have to weigh the competing concerns such as choosing to support research and the
needs of the individual patient as well as the cost for a patient and to obtain the drug and the risks
that the drug may not pay out as much as its worth.