Aspirin could lead to cancer drugs that could beat disease without side-effects

[The Dragon Master]

Cancer sufferers have been given hope of an improved treatment after scientists made a key breakthrough in identifying how aspirin protects against the disease.



By isolating the specific cancer-fighting compound the compound it is hoped that they can develop drugs without side-effects.



Last month, Oxford scientists reported in The Lancet that taking a daily low-dose aspirin for five years cut cancer death risk by 37 per cent.



And now in a major breakthrough separate research has isolated salicylate - a compound that aspirin breaks down into after it's ingested - as the key cancer-fighting component.



Researchers from Canada, Scotland and Australia found this ingredient may give cancer protection but without the dangerous side-effects of aspirin, such as the increased risk of stomach bleeding.



Aspirin, derived from plants such as willow bark, has been used as a drug for thousands of years.



More recently its efficacy in preventing heart attacks and strokes in high-risk patients has been well documented and now it is giving hope to thousands of cancer patients.



In tests, study co-author Grahame Hardie from the University of Dundee, applied salicylate to cultured human kidney cells.

He found this ingredient activated an enzyme called AMPK which is involved in how the body breaks down fat and plays a role in cancer and diabetes.



Her concluded that it is specificaly salicylate and not aspirin itself that switches on the key cancer-preventing enzyme.

Link and the rest of the article: http://www.dailymail...tle-cancer.html

 

[Sinon]

This makes me happy. My grandfather is dealing with cancer currently, and while I doubt this will help him, it may help others in his position in the future.

 

[Raven]

Oh good. I take my fair share of asprin when I get migraines and stuff.

 

[Evil Eye]

Nice.

Let's see if there's a cure for cancer by the time any of us get it, ok?

 

[Jazzy]

Interesting and I hope in the future aspirin is that drug to beat cancer.