Cancer research: Breakthrough by Dharwad scientists

A team of researchers from the department of Biochemistry in Karnatak University, Dharwad, has extracted a recombinant form (re-engineered) of lectin, a protein, from a fungus Sclerotium rolfsii which binds to cancerous cells and destroys them. This development may open up new vistas in the treatment and prevention of cancer.

B M Swamy, a professor of the department, told Business Standard that the lectin will bind with the cancerous cells and kills it within 72 hours.

Swamy, along with two other researchers "" Padma Shastry and Shashikala Inamdar "" have been conducting research on fungus which infect plants. While screening several fungi, he accidentally discovered that the recombinant form of lectin has the ability to specifically bind to the cancerous cells and block its division. "On the other hand, chemotherapy is toxic and also affects normal cells," Swamy said.

The research commenced in 1992 and was funded initially by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The researchers have already secured a patent from National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) Pune. Swamy said two other patents were in the pipeline.

"We are presently investigating the signalling pathway of these cells (death of cancerous cells). The lectin could be produced in large quantities and can be used by pharmaceutical firms," he explained.

Six persons from Greece, UK, USA and Taiwan have collaborated with these researchers as the research progressed.