Jefferson Medical College is using tobacco plants to create monoclonal antibodies to target and fight cancer cells. Tobacco plants shows' promise of providing a more economical, faster method for producing anti-cancer antibodies.

Scientists inserted DNA for the antibody against colorectal cancer into tobacco plants, turning them into antibody manufacturers. Traditional mouse-made monoclonal can recognize a particular type of protein antigen on human colorectal cancer and have been used to treat metastatic disease and preventing the cancer from recurring in high-risk patients. The technology to produce the antibody is expensive, forcing researchers to find a more economical method, as well as to find out if plant-manufactured antibodies could be effective.

Scientists first demonstrated that plant-manufactured monoclonal antibody extracted from tobacco leaves could bind to human colorectal cancer cells. They then grafted human colorectal cancer cells on the backs of mice stripped of their immune system, subsequently injecting the animals with the plant-based antibodies. The animals are carefully monitored for tumor growth for up to 40 days.

Tumor growth was inhibited by the plant-based antibodies in a similar fashion as the mammalian-based antibodies -- suggesting it is possibly an effective alternative method for producing the antibodies. Scientists also suggested that the plant-based antibodies should be safer to use.

Scientists at Jefferson Medical College are currently seeking industry partners to mass produce the antibody. Conducting phase one clinical trial is the next step toward introducing the plant-based antibodies to human patients. At this juncture, Scientists are testing the effectiveness of the plant-based antibodies against other types of cancer, including breast and lung tumor in lab animals.