Cancer research facility the Tata Institute in Mumbai has claimed it has developed through its new research a INR 100 (USD 1.21 tablet that can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and prevent resurgence of cancer.
The researchers and doctors of the institute said they worked for 10 years to develop the tablet which they claim has the potential to prevent the occurrence of cancer for the second time in patients.
Rajendra Badve, a senior cancer surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital, who was part of the research group, told NDTV: “Human cancer cells were inserted in rats for the research, which formed a tumour in them.”
“The rats were then treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. It was found that when these cancer cells die, they break into tiny pieces called Chromatin particles,” he said.
“These particles can travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and when they enter healthy cells, they can turn them cancerous,” he said.
“Tata doctors were working on this tablet for almost a decade. The tablet is awaiting approval from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). TIFR scientists have applied to FSSAI to approve this tablet. After getting the approval, it will be available in the market from June-July. This tablet will help to a great extent in improving cancer treatment,” the senior cancer surgeon said.
“While the budget for the treatment ranges from lakhs to crores, this tablet will be available everywhere for just Rs. 100,” he told the Indian news channel. The doctor, however, said it will take another five years to complete the human trials for the medicine.
“The effect on side-effects were tested on both rats and humans, but the prevention test was done only on rats. It will take about five years to complete the human trials for this. There were challenges during the research, many felt it was a waste of time and money. But today, everyone is happy and excited. It is a big success,” he said.
Russia’s cancer vaccine claim
Russian President Vladimir Putin last month said scientists in his nation are creating vaccines for cancer which will soon be available to patients.
Speaking at a Moscow forum on future technologies, Putin was quoted as saying by Health News that Russia has come very close “to the creation of so-called cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs of a new generation”.
Cancer remains leading cause of death globally
According to WHO website, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths.
The most common cancers are breast, lung, colon and rectum and prostate cancers.
Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.
Cancer-causing infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis, are responsible for approximately 30% of cancer cases in low- and lower-middle-income countries.