2 -The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 2, 2003 NEWS 'U' researcher heads investigation of African milkbush, cancerlink By Neal Pais For the Daily A new study in the British Journal of Cancer has revealed a new source of Burkitt's lymphoma - the most com- mon childhood cancer in much of Africa. Rosemary Rochford, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health, is currently heading the scientific investigation into the suspect African milkbush (Euphorbia tirucalli). "The plant is everywhere - not just around houses. My team conducted a survey on its uses, and I came to the realization that children must play with its sticky sap," Rochford said. The first milkbush research was pub- lished by the British Journal of Cancer in 1993, piquing the interest of Rochford, an expert on the Epstein-Barr virus -an agent believed to stimulate the growth of such cancers as Burkitt's lymphoma. The issue remained largely untouched until Rochford decided to conduct further investigation. Last week, Rochford left for Africa onher latestresearch expedition. Burkitt's lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system. Although it is rarely found in the West, it is quite common in Central Africa, where it strikes the young. Rochford said it is primarily found in the jaw. "I started to think what small children could do with the sap...they put it in their mouths. And this is natural, of course -it's how children are," she said. According to many cancer researchers, this behavior could prove to be deadly. "In Africa a depressingly high proportion of children die with almost no treatment, so it is particularly impor- tant to identify the factors that may be increasing their risk, in order to help prevent the disease" said Nobel Laure- ate Sir Paul Nurse of Cancer Research U.K. ina written statement. "Further research is necessary to confirm the link between exposure to "My team conducted a survey of its uses, and I came to the realization that children must play with its sticky sap." - Rosemary Rochford Assistant Prof. of Epidemiology milkbush sap and Burkitt's lymphoma. But this study could be important, if avoiding exposure to the plant reduced the number of children suffering from the disease," Nurse added. After Rochford learned of the possible connection between the African milkbush and childhood cancer, she imported sev- eral plants from a grower in Florida in order to study the sap firsthand. "When we added the sap to some culture, we observed a change in the pattern of cells. The sap produced more viruses, stimulating a virus cycle," Rochford said. Having located the carcinogenic compounds, Rochford began traveling to Kenya in an attempt to find a way to reduce the instance of milkbush- related lymphomas. "I hope to see more epidemiological studies linked to actual fieldwork," she said. Rochford and some of her graduate students are currently in Africa, attempt- ing to learn more about the milkbush and other cancer-causing flora. "There needs tobea greater awareness of the dangers surrounding the milkbush. Educational literature must be distributed. Children must be brought in for vaccina- tions. We've got to keep kids away from this plant. But you know how children are, and that's where the challenge lies." Rochford said other complications exist in alerting the African public of the danger, referring to some of the tradi- tional uses of the milkbush. "Many tribal cultures believe in the mystical properties of such plants. They possess enormous value to the field of ethnobotany," she said. Rochford is confident that her work will result in a suitable remedy to this grave problem. Until then, however, the children of Africa may continue to be threatened by plants growing in their own neighborhoods. "More money needs to be spent on this. Then we'll see where we go with it...there's a lot more that can be explored," Rochford said. BABY Continued from Page 1 thing for us to do - it's a great reminder how unfortunate so many others in the world really are and an opportunity for us to help out in some small way," he added. Leading a group of volunteers including Quinn around Guatemala, Price first met Jenni in a remote area called Chiquimula last July. "We found Jenni at a shelter, where her birth mother was unable to care for her dying child," Price said. "We knew she needed medical help, but we didn't know how severe the problem was," Quinn said. "The first thing we did was to take her to Guatemala City, the capital, where the medical facilities are better," Price added. "There it was determined that Jenni was in a grave position that demanded immediate attention." Fortunately for Jenni, one of her attending doctors was Dr. Aldo Cas- taneda, retired chief of surgery at Boston Children's Hospital. "Castaneda said that the procedure (necessary for Jenni) could not be performed in Guatemala, and he rec- ommended only four places in the US that could operate on her." After eight months of paperwork, Jenni was scheduled to undergo surgery at Boston Children's Hospital. But one week prior to the operation, "the State of Massachusetts cut their funding for free care, and we could no longer afford the operation," Price said. Working in collaboration with another organization, Children's Chance, Price then came into contact with Bove, who immediately agreed to do the surgery. "The process for setting up Jenni's operation at (the University) was miraculously quick," Price said. "It was only a matter of weeks before we had final approval." "I was ecstatic after hearing the news," Quinn said. "I wat practi- cally crying." The fund for operating on children who cannot afford treatment is support- ed by "generous donors and other sources who give to support this effort," Bove said. He added that doctor's fees are waived in this type of operation. "The University of Michigan is extremely generous and gracious to allow my colleagues and me to treat indigent patients such as Jenni from overseas by donating their services just as the doctors donate theirs," Bove said. Price said she feels that funds for medical care should not only be limited to American children. "Ideally, there should be funds avail- able to all children who have asked for assistance;" she said. "But I don't think that we can say that one child is more valuable than another child." Since their arrival in AnnArbor, Price and Quinn have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House, which houses relatives of children requiring long-term stays at the University Hospital. Bove, Quinn, and Price all have a positive outlook for Jenni's future. "I think Jenni's over the tough part and is now well on her way to recov- ery. She will require more surgery in the future, to change the tube that was inserted when she outgrows it, but will hopefully enjoy a long and happy life," Bove said. After returning home to Montana with Jenni, Quinn, who is 22, plans to return to Guatemala to finalize her legal guardianship over Jenni. "In the future, I want (Jenni) to be very exposed to Guatemala, to have a connection with the people where she started off, where she came from," Quinn added. Anyone wishing to contribute to the "Jenni Fund" that will help pay for Jenni's medical expenses can drop off donations at the Ronald McDonald House or e-mail Sharon Price at sharon@raisethechildren.com. 4 4 4 SC REKEEER TANQUEDD gft FRIDAY m. SI I l i ll s' 75 cent fiM IOTTLE 81 g S oloo~~~0 o ofvvMy g oc >. C ATE 1 1 PJ'S RECORDS & USED CDS 617 Packard Upstairs from Subway Paying $4 to $6 for top CD's in top condition. Also buying premium LP's and cassettes. Open 7 days 663-3441 The selection is ENDLESS The Michigan Daily (lSSN 0745-967) is published on Monday during the spring and summer terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $105. Winter term (January through April) is $110, yearlong (September through April) is $190. University affiliates are sub- ject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be pre- paid. 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