“If someone can do it, you can do it.” These were the dying words of Kin San Lee, a science technician, to his colleagues Dr. Himanshu Brahmbhatt and Dr. Jennifer MacDiarmid. Spoken two decades ago, these words ignited a relentless pursuit for a cancer cure, culminating in the development of a groundbreaking treatment method.
In their Sydney laboratory, Brahmbhatt and MacDiarmid have pioneered the EnGenIC Dream Vector (EDV), a microscopic “Trojan Horse” designed to attack cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. This innovative approach was first introduced to the public in a 2011 episode of the ABC’s Australian Story. Now, their journey is being chronicled in a two-part SBS documentary, The Cancer Killers, which highlights their battle against both the disease and the skepticism from the medical and business communities.
The Birth of a Revolutionary Treatment
Dr. Brahmbhatt recalls the profound impact of Lee’s words on his career.
“Kin San Lee was an amazing scientist,” says Brahmbhatt. “[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 realised, there’s got to be something better … And we developed this nano-cell technology that is able to go after cancer and hence, even when people are at the end stage, we are pulling them out into complete remission.”
Despite the promising results, the road to making EDV widely available is fraught with challenges. Regulatory hurdles and entrenched medical dogmas have slowed progress.
“We get asked by patients, ‘Why can’t I get the treatment now?’” says Brahmbhatt. “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.”
Challenges and Cultural Perceptions
The documentary also follows the scientists’ journey to the United States, where they seek patents and funding. Brahmbhatt shares a striking encounter with a potential investor.
“I was amazed when I met one of those hundred-million-dollar-plus people who was in his late 70s,” he says. “I did a presentation and he sat there and listened for an hour. And at the end, he said, ‘Just tell me one thing … This cancer thing – is it painful?’ That shocked me.”
Dr. MacDiarmid points out a cultural bias that often undermines Australian scientific achievements.
“There’s even a cultural cringe here,” she says. “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?’”
The Documentary’s Insight
Filmmaker Judy Rymer, who narrates The Cancer Killers, has documented the scientists’ journey over 15 years. She describes the challenges faced in capturing their story.
“We all faced problems with funding, and with shocking timelines,” says Rymer. “They’re very selective about how they want to expose themselves to the public because of somebody trying to copycat it … But I do think that the biotech industry in Australia doesn’t get the kind of exposure that we would probably like it to.”
The documentary reveals the unique dynamic between Brahmbhatt and MacDiarmid, who start each day with a breakfast debate.
“We throw everything that’s in our minds on the table,” says Brahmbhatt. “By the time the breakfast is over, we have come to consensus views on several issues.”
MacDiarmid adds,
“We get on famously,” she says. “I think he’s brilliant. I’m more focused and can reel him in, but we work off each other very well.”
The Human Element
Tragically, the team recently lost a colleague to cancer, their first postdoctoral scientist who had been with them from the start.
“We were gutted that [due to protocol], we couldn’t get the EDV into someone who worked on it,” says MacDiarmid. “It was heartbreaking. And there’s a long line of people like her waiting.”
Despite the challenges, the scientists remain hopeful. MacDiarmid wants patients to know that there is always hope.
“Even when you think that there’s nothing to be done, we can do something and have done something. We’re on your side.”
The Cancer Killers premieres at 9.30pm on Tuesday, November 4, on SBS, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of those fighting on the front lines of cancer research.
