Scientists claim breakthrough in fight against cancer

CANBERRA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Australian scientists from Sydney, Australia's largest city, are claiming they have made a breakthrough in the fight against cancer which will help with the development of more effective drugs.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio on Friday reported that researchers from the Children's Medical Research Institute in Sydney have identified the structure of an enzyme known as telomerase.

It is believed to prevent cancer cells dying in the same way normal cells do as they age.
Head researcher Scott Cohen said it was previously thought there were 30 proteins inside the enzyme, but his team has discovered that only two are present.

He said this will provide scientists working on anti-cancer therapies a much tighter focus for their work.

"By determining the composition, we have answered a fundamental question about telomerase, which will definitely encourage the focus and significant advancement into this area of research," he was quoted by ABC radio as saying.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-03/30/content_5915643.htm