A new study in the British Journal of Cancer has revealed a new source of Burkitt’s lymphoma – the most common 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 published 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 on her latest research 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 important to identify the factors that may be increasing their risk, in order to help prevent the disease,” said Nobel Laureate Sir Paul Nurse of Cancer Research U.K. in a written statement.
“Further research is necessary to confirm the link between exposure to 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 several 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, attempting to learn more about the milkbush and other cancer-causing flora.
“There needs to be a greater awareness of the dangers surrounding the milkbush. Educational literature must be distributed. Children must be brought in for vaccinations. 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 traditional 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.