Getting cancer cells to self-destruct - breakthrough in treatment of the problem of the century

This new mechanism can create a breakthrough in cancer treatment - a disease that kills millions of people worldwide each year.

Recently, researchers have made a breakthrough discovery in the treatment of cancer. It is the mechanism that causes cancer cells to self-destruct, including the most malignant tumors such as pancreatic cancer.

When modifying a particular type of protein inside the cancer cell, the self-destruct process is activated.

Specifically, experts from Tel Aviv University (Israel) have realized that when modifying a particular type of protein inside cancer cells, the process of self-destruction will be activated. At that time, the tumor dropped to only half, the cells died instead of spreading. In particular, this process does not affect healthy cells around.

"The discovery of a mechanism to kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells, thereby creating a breakthrough in cancer treatment, really excited us " - research leader Malka Cohen-Armon said.

The team focused on proteins that affect the structure and stability of a part of the cell called "spindle." The task of the spindle is to arrange genetic material during cell division.

Cancer cells no longer have the ability to divide and spread, but die slowly.

They realized that there are some compounds in cancer cells that affect the spindle, making the cancer cell itself unable to divide and spread.

"With this mechanism, the faster the cell divides, the faster it will be destroyed. Sooner or later, the entire cancer cell will be destroyed," Cohen-Armon said.

Cohen-Armon's experiment was performed on mice, and has been very positive for most types of cancer today, including the most malignant cases. Further research will be needed to confirm this process, but it is clear that this is an important breakthrough in the fight against the disease of the century.

Research published on Oncotarget.