Glowing, auto-destructing cancer, courtesy of firefly DNA

Cory Doctorow 9:20 am Mon Apr 21, 2003

British researchers are treating cancer with firefly genes, which cause cancer cells to glow bright enough to auto-destruct.

In a new study, researchers from London inserted the firefly gene that activates bioluminescent light into modified cancer cells, hoping to set off a chain of events that has a proven track record at fighting the disease. This light source, known as Luciferin, caused the modified cancer cells to glow much like it does with the firefly. When a photosensitizing agent was added, the combination proved lethal.

"The cells produced enough light to trigger their own death," said Dr. Theodossis Theodossiou of the National Medical Laser Centre, University College London. University College London scientists and colleagues at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research published their results today in the journal Cancer Research.

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