While the experiment was still in progress, a veterinarian at Johns Hopkins University put the mice on the same deworming medications that Tippens used.

After examining the results, scientists found that the implanted tumors would not grow, he said.

“They were trying to make cancer in mice and unbeknownst to them, something that the veterinarian in the facility had done prevented that,” Prescott said.

Shortly after, Prescott said he met Tippens through mutual friends.

While director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Prescott said he “would hear stories all the time about new approaches to cancer medical treatments,” but remained skeptical.

However, Prescott said he and a team Tippens is putting together will collaborate to explore alternative care methods.

“It would be a wonderful thing if we discovered that there is this compound that has broad activity with dramatic responses like with Mr. Tippens, what a great thing that would be,” he said.

Prescott said they plan to spend six to 12 months researching the medical records of cancer patients.