This Single Molecule Drives Cancer Cells to Suicide

Posted by Jamie Condliffe on February 8, 2013

A team of researchers has identified a single molecule, called TIC10, that kick-starts the body's tumor-destroying systems—causing a chain reaction that can kill cancer dead.

In a series of experiments in mice the researchers, from Pennsylvania State University, found that TIC10 activities the gene for a protein called TRAIL—that's short for tumour-necrosis-factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand—which causes cancerous cells to commit suicide. Wafik El-Deiry, one of the researchers explains:  …..

A series of experiments provided evidence that TIC10 works on a wide range of tumors, including breast, lymphatic, colon and lung cancer. While the TRAIL protein has been targeted in the past, it's never been exploited as successfully—something the researchers put down to the small size of the molecule TIC10. There's a hidden benefit, too, because TIC10 seems to cause healthy cells to join in the fight, too.   …..

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