Cancer remains one of the great challenges to modern medicine. In spite of the fact that there have been many advancements in treatment and detection in recent decades, cancer is often a terminal diagnosis and is still in the top ten leading causes of death, both in the United States and many other countries around the world. That is why research into new treatments is so important.
While it is not surprising that nature should be able to offer a potential remedy for this deadly condition, the source of that remedy might really surprise some people. New research has made the amazing discovery that frogs, of all things, might be able to help cure cancer.
Shocking News from Northern Ireland
This news is based on research from Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where scientists have discovered that two different proteins which are found in secretions from the skins of frogs may prove very effective as a cancer treatment. This is due to the apparent ability of these proteins to eliminate cancer cells by means of interfering with the growth of blood vessels which bring nutrients to those cells. Without those blood vessels to carry nutrients and oxygen to them, the cancer cells die off.
So, as unbelievable as it sounds, there is a real case here for arguing that frogs can cure cancer.
More on this Research
The lead researcher in this study from Queen’s College is Dr. Shaw, whose specialty is Drug Discovery. In other words, much of Dr. Shaw’s research is geared towards isolating active compounds from the natural world and seeing if those compounds can be developed into actual clinical treatments which medical professionals can use to help cure or improve various diseases and conditions. Dr. Shaw’s main research in the past has been studying venom from amphibians all around the world.
In this particular study, the proteins in question were found secreted from the skins of two different species of frogs, the Waxy Monkey Frog and the Giant Firebellied Toad. Both of these frogs secrete chemicals from their skin which Dr. Shaw discovered have the ability to affect the synthesis of blood vessels (a process called angiogenesis); again, this is extremely important for cancer development, as cancer cells and tumors need a network of blood vessels to bring nutrients to them and also to help them dispose of cellular waste. Without blood vessels to help with this, the cancerous tumor is forced to stop growing as it simply does not have enough nutrients to foster than growth.
The idea now is to try to synthesize these proteins in a laboratory and make it possible for an actual drug to be developed from these proteins. Dr. Shaw believes that this could potentially revolutionize cancer treatment and make it possible to turn cancer from a terminal disease to a chronic one.
In short, this discovery from Queen’s College, though it sounds implausible, seems to point to the fact that cancer cells can essentially be starved to death if the blood vessels which supply them with needed nutrients are not allowed to form. This could prove to be a source of real hope for the countless millions of people who suffer from this disease all over the world.
Sources : bbc.com, yourfoodcorner.com, healthxchange.com.sg
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