Scientists claim to have developed a synthetic molecule that causes cancer cells to self-destruct, potentially leading to effective new treatments for the disease.
Both cancerous and normal body cells contain a protein called procaspase-3 which, when activated, prompts the cell to release toxins, killing itself.
However, in cancerous cells, the process of activation does not occur, allowing tumours to grow.
But now a team of researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a protein that is directly able to activate procaspase-3, initiating the suicide mechanism in the cancer cells.
"We have identified a small, synthetic compound that directly activates procaspase-3 and induces apoptosis (cell death)," explained Professor Paul Hergenrother, a member of the research team.
"By bypassing the broken pathway, we can use the cells' own machinery to destroy themselves."
The discovery opens the door to the possibility of new cancer fighting treatments that are able kill off cancer cells without the need for more harmful radiation or chemotherapy drugs.
"This is the first in what could be a host of organic compounds with the ability to directly activate executioner enzymes," added Professor Hergenrother.