Cancer Drug Stops Spread in One Punch
Reported April 16, 2010
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Cancer patients reeling from metastasis may be on the verge of a major victory.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College say new anti-cancer agents may stop metastasis — or the migration of cancer cells from a tumor to other parts of the body — dead in its tracks.
More than 90 percent of cancer patients die from tumors spreading, Dr. Xin-Yun Huang, a professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medical College, told Ivanhoe. In turn, he continued [this] may increase the survival rate.”
Researchers found mice implanted with cancer cells and treated with the small molecule macroketone lived a full life without any cancer spread, compared to control animals — which all died from metastasis.
Dr. Huang and his team have been focusing on macroketone since 2003, and he admits to being extremely excited about the future possibilities for his research. While information-gathering is still in its early stages, Dr. Huang says its possible his team could get the green light for clinical trials in the near future.
Source: Ivanhoe interview with Xin-Yun Huang; Nature, published online April 14, 2010