Bacteria in the gut can help reduce side effects from radiotherapy.
Now a Hong Kong research team has made a breakthrough discovery with regard to liver cancer. The third most deadly cancer, it often goes undetected until it’s too late.
The team analysed membrane particles segregated from blood platelets, which function as a messenger between cells.
Within the particles they took a detailed view of all available proteins. These carry the information into the cells.
One protein in particular was present in greater quantities in liver cancer patients, and can thus be regarded as a biomarker for the disease.
In mice, therapy reducing this protein has resulted in shrinking the size of tumours.
Encouraging research.
