Given the danger of tobacco use as a known cancer risk, is there any redeeming value to the tobacco plant? Dr. Franconi of Checkbiotech believes there might be and has been conducting experiments with transgenic tobacco in developing cervical cancer vaccines. Using crude plant extracts, genetically engineered plants and plant viruses, mice immunized with crude extracts of transgenic tobacco displayed strong immune responses and about 40 percent of the animals were protected from HPV-induced tumors. Ultimately, this avenue of research might one day offer the possibility of using plant extracts as edible vaccines.

The benefits to using plants in the development of cancer vaccines are obvious. Freeze-dried leaf has a long-term stability and shelf life, making the availability for the production of vaccines more dependable; plants demand for solar light, water and minerals are simple and make plants an economic system for production of cancer vaccines. There are still kinks to work out in making this a safe and effective alternative in creating cancer vaccines, and research is continuing in the perfection of production of these vaccines. However, it is interesting work being done with a plant associated with so much despair and damage to health. To read more indepth information about the research and progress researchers are making in developing cervical cancer vaccines using transgenic tobacco, go here.

Photo credit: Checkbiotech greenhouse research facility