Cancer Breakthrough Announced

wwp2 gene

In reports out of the U.K., it appears that scientists may be able, before the end of this decade, to produce drugs capable of stopping the spread of many cancers.

At the core of this announcement is the discovery of what British scientists from the University of East Anglia refer to as a “rogue gene”, known as WWP2. This gene appears to be a bonding agent enzyme responsible for metastasis. This refers to the stage of the disease when the cancer cells begin to spread throughout the body. Scientists feel confident that by isolating this gene with drugs, they will be able to stop the spread of the disease.

The findings of the scientists were recently published in the journal Oncogene. As the report explains, the bodies natural defense against the spread of cancer is an inhibitor protein. The WWP2 gene attacks this protein thus enabling the spread of the cancer cells. Lab experiments showed that by blocking WWP2 the body’s natural defense is able to keep the cancer cells contained and dormant.

Now that scientist understand the culprit behind the spread of the disease, work can begin on a drug which can get inside of the cancer cells and destroy the gene.