In 2013, scientists in India began testing the effectiveness of a combination of magic and alcohol to treat oral cancer.
The researchers found that drinking a combination that includes vodka, gin, rum and vodka-infused milk significantly reduced the rate of cancer growth in the lab.
Now the research team, led by Dr Ashish Ramachandran of the Indian Institute of Science, has developed a similar study that uses a cocktail of alcohol, milk and spices to reduce the rate and size of cancerous cells.
Dr Ramachadran and his team say the study will allow them to assess the impact of different combinations of alcohol on oral cancer cells, and whether there are any differences in their ability to survive and multiply.
The scientists hope the study could lead to new medicines that are safe and effective in the treatment of oral cancer patients.
In this image from video of the lab study, Dr Ramashekar demonstrates how a mixture of alcohol and milk reduces the size and number of cells that grow on the surface of oral tumours.
A recent report from the UK’s Cancer Research UK (CRU) estimated that about a quarter of oral cancers could be cured with a single dose of a cancer treatment.
However, this was not enough to stop the spread of oral and pharyngeal cancer, which now accounts for a third of all cancers worldwide.
Dr Ashashram said: “The study showed that combining two types of alcohol into a cocktail, such as vodka and gin, significantly reduced cancer growth, and therefore could be used to treat cancerous oral tumour growth in oral cancer patient.”
In this picture taken on February 10, 2018, a man is given a shot of a cocktail containing a mixture called ‘Vodka-Gin’ by a team of scientists at the Indian Institutes of Science (IISc).
Dr Ramrashekar says the combination of vodka, rum, gin and milk is a good combination to use in cancer patients’ oral health because it is cheap and easy to make.
“These cocktails can be made from home-made ingredients like sugar, cinnamon, cloves and other spices,” he said.
“They can be added to food, which is easy, and there are no chemicals involved.”
Dr Ramaseshekar said that in addition to using a cocktail to treat patients, the research also involved identifying the types of oral cells that are most sensitive to the cancer treatment, which could help in designing treatments.
“We know that oral cancer is caused by abnormal cells, but we have not yet identified the specific cells that make up the cancerous cell.”
We are currently looking at how to target specific cells with different combinations, so we can target the cancer cells with more aggressive treatments,” he added.
Dr Sharma said: “[Our study] is not the first time that we have tried to find a way to target different types of cancer cells using a combination, but it is the first to use a cocktail that is a mixture, not a single cocktail.”
Dr Sharma added that the cocktail of spirits, rum & milk was the most potent, with a lower toxicity.
The cocktail also contained ingredients that had been shown to be able to kill cells that were growing in oral tumoured cells.
Dr Ramesh Sharma, senior scientist at the IISc and an author of the study, said: The combination of alcohol & milk is not a simple formula and we need to know which molecules are in the mixture before we start making cocktails. “
So far, the cocktail seems to be quite safe, but more research is needed before we can conclude if it is safe for patients.”
Dr Ramesh Sharma, senior scientist at the IISc and an author of the study, said: The combination of alcohol & milk is not a simple formula and we need to know which molecules are in the mixture before we start making cocktails.
Dr Rameeshekar and his colleagues say that although it is not clear how the cocktail works, they are confident that the combination is safe, and that there is not much risk of side effects.
Dr Srinivasan said: One of the most important questions we are trying to answer is how does this combination work?
“We are working to understand the mechanisms that are involved in how cancer cells grow on a surface and whether they can survive and survive in the mouth of cancer patients,” he told New Scientist.
“The cocktail of ingredients is a really powerful way to tackle oral cancer because it reduces the cancer cell’s growth, which means that the cancer is contained and it can be contained.”
Dr Asharashek said: As we look at the molecular mechanisms involved in oral cell survival, it may be possible to identify specific drugs that can target specific cell types.
“It could be a really important step in the fight against cancer,” he concluded.
Dr Rao of the National Cancer Institute in the US said: This is a great study.
I hope it leads to more and more drugs for oral cancer and oral cancer therapy in general.
“If it works for oral cells, it could potentially be a great thing for oral cancers in general, and cancer treatment
