Drug experiment blocks radiation damage

[Mugu]

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON - Scientists mimicked one of cancer's sneaky tricks to create a drug that promises to prevent a serious side effect of cancer treatment — radiation damage — or offer an antidote during a nuclear emergency.

A single dose of the experimental drug protected both mice and monkeys from what should have been lethal doses of radiation, researchers report in Friday's edition of the journal Science. A study to see if the compound is safe in people could begin as early as this summer.

It's still early-stage research, and other efforts to create radiation protectants haven't yet panned out. But specialists are closely watching the work — and the government is helping to fund it — because it's a new approach to protecting the body's most radiation-sensitive tissues from being blasted. "It has important implications for radiation exposure," said Dr. David Kirsch, a Duke University radiation oncologist who wasn't involved in the drug research.

Radiation is a powerful tool to destroy cancer cells. But certain healthy tissues are especially sensitive to it, too, particularly the bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract. That vulnerability can limit how much radiation physicians are able to give cancer patients.


Complete article at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080410/ap_on_he_me/radiation_drug;_ylt=AgGzwfDziu6UUUwjpCkI_lqs0NUE

[patrice]

1. Oh Great! A pill for Nuclear War. We're doomed! : - ((((((((((((((((( nt

[MADem]

2. Wow! Worth a crosspost in the health forum...

Shame that it'll be put to use as a war antidote, but nonetheless, this is a fine breakthrough for cancer sufferers.