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Python beats cancer with pioneering human therapy in UK
🇬🇷 Greece /Health & Science

Python beats cancer with pioneering human therapy in UK

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A 23-year-old, 50-kilogram python named "Jodie Foster" has become the first reptile globally to undergo electrochemotherapy to treat cancer.
  • The innovative treatment, typically used for humans, combines chemotherapy with electrical pulses to target tumors, successfully eliminating cancer in the snake.
  • The procedure, a collaboration between Chester Zoo and the University of Liverpool, faced significant logistical challenges due to the python's size but ultimately proved highly effective.

A 23-year-old, 50-kilogram python named "Jodie Foster" has successfully beaten cancer thanks to a pioneering treatment usually reserved for humans. Chester Zoo in northern England announced Friday that the reptile is the first of its kind to undergo electrochemotherapy, a method that enhances chemotherapy's effectiveness by delivering targeted electrical pulses to tumors.

The specific method combines the injection of an anticancer drug with short electrical pulses, in order to enhance the action of the treatment in the tumor area.

— Chester ZooExplaining the electrochemotherapy treatment applied to the python.

The snake, affectionately named "Jodie Foster" after arriving at the zoo two decades ago, was diagnosed with a recurring cancerous tumor near its jaw in October 2025. This followed a surgery months earlier to remove an initial growth. The zoo's veterinary team collaborated with cancer specialists from the University of Liverpool to adapt the human treatment for the large reptile.

The treatment proved highly successful, with "Jodie Foster" now showing no signs of cancer. The python is eating normally and has resumed its active behavior. However, administering the therapy presented considerable challenges due to the python's size. It required anesthesia within its enclosure before being moved to the zoo's veterinary center. Two operating tables were joined to create a space roughly the size of a double bed for the procedure, according to zoo veterinarian Ian Aspell.

Jodie Foster needed to be anesthetized inside his enclosure and then transported to the zoo's veterinary center.

— Chester ZooDescribing the logistical challenges of treating the large python.

While electrochemotherapy has been used on other animals, including a tortoise, this case marks a significant advancement in its application to reptiles. The successful outcome offers hope for similar treatments in other large or unusual animal patients.

Two surgical tables had to be joined to create a single space approximately the size of a double bed.

— Ian AspellDetailing the preparation for the treatment due to the python's size.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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