SCSU student researching cancer treatment
Jocelyn Maminta
TV News Channel 8

June 12, 2007

New Haven, CT -- Researchers at Southern Connecticut State University are looking at plants to help with the battle against cancer.

Moss, lichen and fern are primitive plants that are easily found in the great outdoors. Biology student Erin Boisvert came up with the idea that the plants may have medicinal value.

"They can't move, they have to have some kind of defense mechanism, a chemical in order to defend themselves," said Erin.

Erin approached biology professor Dr. Sarah Crawford and together they have found success in the test tube.

"We ground it up very carefully while it was still alive and then we put it into a biologically neutral fluid so it would not have any toxic properties," explained Dr. Crawford. "We used it to treat the cancer cells immediately and to see if there was potent anti-cancer activity."

The anti-cancer extract revealed promising results against brain and colon cancer in the pre-clinical state.

"The plant treatment causes the breakdown of the cytoskeleton, its dispersion within the cytoplasm and this precedes the death of the tumor cells," said Dr. Crawford.

Now the team is applying what they know to other cancers such as lung, breast and leukemia. The next step is to identify the specific properties involved.

"It's absolutely amazing to think that something in your own backyard can be the next treatment for cancer," said Erin. Even in pre-clinical studies it can be effective. It's amazing."

To protect their work, Erin and Dr. Crawford have received a provisional patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.