Russian Scientists Discover Protein Which Causes Cancer Cells to Self-Destruct

Molecular biologists from Moscow State University and the Russian Academy of Sciences have discovered proteins that can help suppress the growth of cancerous tumors.

The genomes of human beings and other multicellular organisms contain several sets of genes with special ‘instructions’, calling on their cells to self-destruct when certain conditions are met. Usually, these reactions are triggered not as a result of internal cellular processes, but through contact of cell membranes with specific signal-sending molecules. This allows the immune system to kill ‘rebellious’ cells which threaten to cause cancerous tumors, and clear the organism of weak and old cells.