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Natural sugar may help cure cancer, says a new study.
Gordon Jayson of Manchester's Christie's Hospital and other researchers found a complex natural sugar from the glucose family that blocked the growth of tumours in tests in mice, reports online edition of New Scientist.
The technique uses a complex natural sugar called heparin. During the tests, the sugar molecules were divided and purified before being injected.
However, the researchers say it is effective only if the cancer is diagnosed early because it does not reduce the size of tumours. They said the technique may prove to be an effective treatment when combined with other cancer therapies.
"If someone has cancer, it has often spread so what you may find is that this treatment could be used once the initial tumour has been removed," said Mark Matfield, another researcher.
"It could be used to stop the cancer cells developing when they have spread. But we will have to see how it develops in future trials."
"Cancers depend on a supply of oxygen and nutrients, and they trick the body into growing new blood vessels by sending out chemical signals," said Kat Arney, a science information officer at Britain's Cancer Research.
"Dr. Jayson's research is exciting because it shows for the first time that complex sugars can block the development of blood vessels by jamming these signals.
"Because adults don't normally need to grow new blood vessels, this discovery could lead to a highly specific and effective treatment for many types of cancer," she said.
"However, this research is still at an early stage and it will be essential to develop these sugars further and test their actions in patients," she added. Scientists hope to start clinical trials in the next two years.
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