JERUSALEM, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Scientists at the Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv have recently discovered a protein that they say can slow the pancreatic cancer cell's growth and treat other aggressive cancers.
The protein, known as Klothos, is found in healthy pancreatic cells. When injected into mice during lab trials conducted at Sheba's Cancer Research Center, the protein not only prevented the cancerous cells previously implanted from spreading, but also led to their gradual withdrawal.
"After a week of being inoculated with Klothos, the tumors stopped growing and actually began to shrink," Dr. Ido Wolf, who heads Klothos research at Sheba's Oncology Department, told Xinhua on Tuesday.
He said mice treated with the protein lived significantly longer than those who were not.
Pancreatic cancer is considered particularly aggressive. A patient's average life expectancy is about six months.
Wolf said the study could also eventually enable the early detection and treatment of the disease and assist in slowing down other aggressive cancers, including that of liver and cervix.
The research team is now attempting to ascertain the protein's effects on humans, as well as finding ways to reduce its side effects.
