No, it's not another Daily Mail fake headline, it's genuine science. Scientists think they have found a way to get a leukaemia sufferer's own immune system to attack and destroy the cancerous cells. The short version is they 'reprogram' the sufferer's T-cells to react to cancerous cells which causes an immune reaction and destroys the tumour.

Now, what do you think is the best thing around for reprogramming T-cells? The HIV Virus. That's what it does. So they've used a modified 'safe' HIV virus as an agent to modify the t-cells. In the limited test they've performed, 2 of the 3 subjects are entirely cancer free after one year, and the other is showing significant improvement.

This screws with my head. As is does with XKCD's, apparently.

Jon

It's both crazy and great, isn't it?

ION:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14591472

If it does work then it might solve one problem but create another. Who know's? If they can eradicate cancer then it might be a lot cheaper than conventional treatment.

I remember reading about this back at medical school - though it was in the theoretical stages back then.

Looks like they're increased the cancer killing properties of ecstasy 100 fold though, looks very promising. clicky

Will that mean that raves can now be regarded as treatment centres?

Yeah, I wonder how long someone uses the 'I'm self medicating' defence when they're in court?

That would send the daily fail into apoplexy.

Indeed. I wonder how they would react if morphine was just discovered...

Sometimes I am surprised that they have not already considering its origin.

I'll take my chances with the cancer thanks.
Sounds intereting.