KILLING CANCER CELLS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21341, 7 December 1934, Page 13

KILLING CANCER CELLS

A SELECTIVE SERUM ANIMALS MADE IMMUNE LONDON, December 5. A serum which kills cancer cells without injuring normal cells has been evolved by Dr.. Lumsden, who is in charge of the London Hospital's cancer research laboratories. The hospital authorities report that the serum kills cancer in animals, which are from then on immune. The report emphasises that the serum is not yet applicable to human beings; nevertheless, the results are distinctly encouraging. Dr. P. Clennell Fenwick, head of the radium department at the Christchurch Public Hospital, described this message when it was referred to him as most encouraging. Dr. Lumsden was a well-known research worker and a first-class man. It could be assumed that what he said was right, as he would not issue a report which was not strictly accurate. Dr. Fenwick added that he did not care to comment further until additional-reports of Dr. Lumsden's researches and the results obtained had been received.

A prominent Christchurch doctor, who also remarked on the high standing of Dr. Lumsden, said that research work in cancer had been taking the direction indicated in the message. The attempt was to discover a serum which would retard the growth of the cancer, or cause it to disappear, and work along these lines was being carried out at the Otago medical school. Dr. Lumsden's serum, which was reported to be successful in the case of animals, might be applicable to human beings, but as the message indicated that stage in the experimentation had not yet been reached. It was not possible to make further comment until details of Dr. Lumsden's work were received.