(File photo)
A team of Chinese scientists have discovered a new method for taming active cancer cells, the China Youth Daily reported on Thursday.
A protein, RACK7, and an enzyme, KDM5C, have been found to be capable of controlling bodily mechanisms that can subsequently result in cancer.
The findings were made by a research team at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, and published in the April 7 issue of the scientific journal Cell.
However, the team is facing difficulties in turning its findings into tangible treatment. "It will take us at least five years to develop a medicine if we receive investment," said Lan Fei, the research team's leading scientist. "However, only a handful of Chinese businesses are willing to wait five to 15 years to see their investments yield results."
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Statistics from the World Health Organization show that in 2012 there were approximately 14 million new cancer cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths throughout the world, and the number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70 percent in the next two decades.
