stop cancerous cells

Australian scientists say they have had a breakthrough which could help prevent diseases such as leukaemia, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.Researchers from the St Vincent's Institute in Melbourne and the Hanson Institute in Adelaide say they have unravelled the structure of an important part of white blood cells. Scientists say when a part of the cell is damaged and keep replicating, it causes leukaemia and inflammatory diseases. Scientists know cells get the information to replicate through an antenna which picks up the signal from the body, but new 3D imaging has allowed researchers to see exactly how it works. Study co-head Professor Michael Parker from the St Vincent's Institute says it means they can now work on a possible cure."If we can stop those strings forming, then there's no signal. And if there's no signal, then the cells will stop proliferating," he said. It is hoped the discovery can lead to more targeted treatments and cures, such as a cure for asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. The scientists have signed an agreement with pharmaceutical company CSL to develop a treatment that will stop the protein from controlling the spread of cancerous cells. The findings have been published in the Science Journal, Cell.