Suicide Gene--using diphtheria toxin gene to kill pancreatic cancer

My beloved friend, Carole died this August.  She had cancer of the pancreas. 

The physician she was working with offered a combination of chemotherapy drugs that were slightly different than what was routinely being offered.  Several of her patients were still alive--living an active and good quality of life-- after 2 and for some 3 years. We were all hopeful that Carole would experience the same results.  For a time it looked like she would.  The cancer in her liver appeared to be vanquished and the tumor in her pancreas had shrunk by half.  The scans came back with wonderful news and the cancer marker tests cheered us.  

Then everything changed and she died--just that quickly. 

The following article is one that I would have shared with Carole.  We would have talked about it, looked for more info on the research team, maybe even contacted the people involved.  

"Jefferson scientists deliver toxic genes to effectively kill pancreatic cancer cells" Link  to article