Australian scientists claim breakthrough in fight against cancer
30/3/2007 17:07
Australian scientists from Sydney, Australia's largest city, are claiming
they have made a breakthrough in the fight against cancer which will help with
the development of more effective drugs.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(ABC) radio today reported that researchers from the Children's Medical Research
Instititute in Sydney have identified the structure of an enzyme known as
telomerase.
It is believed to prevent cancer cells dying in the same way
normal cells do as they age.
Head researcher Scott Cohen said it was
previously thought there were 30 proteins inside the enzyme, but his team has
discovered that only two are present.
He said this will provide scientists
working on anti-cancer therapies a much tighter focus for their work.
"By
determining the composition, we have answered a fundamental question about
telomerase, which will definitely encourage the focus and significant
advancement into this area of research," he was quoted by ABC radio as
saying.
Xinhua
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