Tata Institute's revolutionary finding; Rs 100 tablet for cancer

KOCHI: Scientists at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai have developed a tablet costing just 100 rupees that will revolutionize cancer treatment. This medicine will be a boon to lakhs of patients who cannot afford the heavy cost of cancer treatment.

The tablet will become available in the market by June-July once it gets approval from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. It will reach the market in the name R+Cu.

Dr Rajendra Badwe, senior surgical oncologist at Tata Memorial Hospital, said the tablet is effective in preventing cancer recurrence and halving the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. The tablet will be very effective in the treatment of cancer in organs like the mouth, lungs and pancreas.

The revolutionary finding was made after ten years of research. The medicine was submitted for approval after successful trials in mice and humans regarding side effects. Trials are underway to see if the new drug can prevent cancer if taken beforehand. This experiment was completed in mice. Human trials will take five years to complete.

Grapes and copper
Resveratrol ( R ) and Copper ( Cu ) are the main ingredients in the pill. Resveratrol, abundant in red grapes, has been found to resist cancer, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's. Copper can generate oxygen radicals.

Functioning of tablet
Chromosome particles (chromatin particles) from cells that get destroyed due to cancer cause cancer in healthy cells. This is how cancer spreads in the body (metastasis). These can invade healthy chromosomes and form new tumours. On consuming the tablet, charged oxygen radicals will be produced in the stomach. These molecules can quickly enter the bloodstream and damage chromatin particles. It also prevents the spread of cancer.

Experiment in mice
When mice were injected with human cancer cells, they developed tumours. Treatment consisted of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. It was observed that dying cancer cells were turning to chromatin particles. These chromatin particles travel through the bloodstream and cause cancer in healthy cells throughout the body. When mice were given this medicine, it was found that the chromatin particles were getting destroyed.