STUDY SUGGESTS DEATH CAP MUSHROOM POISON ARRESTS PANCREATIC CANCER IN MICE

摘要

The mere thought of an identification error sends a chill down the spine of any mushroomlover. The death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) contains one of the most deadly poisons found in nature, a-amanitin. This substance kills any cell without exception, whether it be healthy or cancerous. At the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and the National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg, immunologist Dr. Gerhard Moldenhauer, jointly with biochemist Professor Dr. Heinz Faulstich, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, has now developed a method for destroying cancer cells using the dreaded fungal toxin without harming the body.