“If someone can do it, you can do it.” These were the dying words of science technician Kin San Lee, spoken two decades ago, that ignited a relentless pursuit in cancer research by Dr. Himanshu Brahmbhatt and Dr. Jennifer MacDiarmid. Their groundbreaking work has culminated in the development of the EnGenIC Dream Vector (EDV), a microscopic “Trojan Horse” designed to target and destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. This pioneering effort is now the focus of a two-part SBS documentary, The Cancer Killers, which chronicles their battle against both the disease and the skepticism of the medical and business establishments.
The announcement comes as the scientific community continues to grapple with the complexities of cancer treatment. The EDV technology, first highlighted in a 2011 episode of the ABC’s Australian Story, represents a significant leap forward. “Kin San Lee was an amazing scientist,” Brahmbhatt recalls. “His words spun me around 1000 times. After that, I just sat in the Sydney University well into the night and kept on studying… That’s when I realized, there’s got to be something better.”
Challenges and Resistance
Despite the promising results, the road to making EDV widely available is fraught with challenges. “We get asked by patients, ‘Why can’t I get the treatment now?’” Brahmbhatt explains. “The problem is that there are a lot of people who, in the interest of making money, try to push products onto the market. And hence, regulatory bodies have become very strict.”
This development follows a long-standing tradition of skepticism within oncology, a field that has been “plagued with dogmas” for over 70 years. The introduction of novel solutions often meets resistance, as Brahmbhatt and MacDiarmid have experienced firsthand. In the documentary, the scientists travel to the United States in search of patents and funding, encountering both support and disbelief.
The Global Perspective
MacDiarmid sheds light on the international perception of medical innovation, noting a “cultural cringe” that undervalues Australian breakthroughs. “When we had our first patent, the Australian patent office was the first to review it. And their actual comment was, ‘Surely this would have been done in America?’” she recounts.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Judy Rymer, who has documented the scientists’ journey for 15 years, highlights the parallel struggles faced by the biotech industry in Australia. “We all faced problems with funding, and with shocking timelines,” Rymer says. “The biotech industry in Australia doesn’t get the kind of exposure that we would probably like it to.”
The Personal Journey
Throughout their journey, Brahmbhatt and MacDiarmid have maintained a close partnership. “We throw everything that’s in our minds on the table,” Brahmbhatt says of their daily breakfast debates. MacDiarmid adds, “We get on famously. I think he’s brilliant. I’m more focused and can reel him in, but we work off each other very well.”
Tragically, the pair recently lost another colleague to cancer—an event that underscores the urgency of their work. “We were gutted that [due to protocol], we couldn’t get the EDV into someone who worked on it,” says MacDiarmid. “It was heartbreaking.”
Despite the setbacks, the scientists remain hopeful. “Even when you think that there’s nothing to be done, we can do something and have done something. We’re on your side,” MacDiarmid assures patients.
The Cancer Killers premieres at 9:30 PM on Tuesday, November 4, on SBS, offering viewers an inside look at the tireless efforts to combat one of medicine’s greatest challenges.
