MOSCOW, 23 Apr. Researchers from the University of Konstanz, Germany, have come to a promising discovery — they managed to find a substance that effectively resists the spread of cancer cells, according to Focus.de. In a study by a group led by biologist Christoph Hauck, published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, they are talking about finding a new type of inhibitor (substance that suppresses the process) that can effectively resist the development of cancer. It blocks cancer cells, thereby preventing their penetration into healthy tissues. When cells grow, two groups of enzymes play the main role in this process: protein phosphatases and protein kinases. The found inhibitor counteracts one of the enzymes of the first group, which is often found in large quantities in malignant tumors, thereby depriving the cancer cell of the ability to move and, as a result, penetrate into healthy tissues. cells.
"This may still be a distant dream, but being able to stop tumor metastasis would be a big step forward. Especially in situations where the primary tumor can be removed surgically, the possible appearance of metastases hangs over the patient like the sword of Damocles", said Tanya Grimm, one of the authors of the study.
However, as noted in the material, the use of methods using of the found inhibitor will enter applied medicine after a long time. Therefore, until then, scientists call the timely detection and treatment of oncological diseases the main way to fight cancer.