Scientists Find New Way Of Using Cells To Prevent Cancer

Sydney: Australian researchers have identified a surprising mechanism focusing on telomeres -- protective caps at the ends of chromosomes -- that can help cells defend against cancer.

Telomeres are known to play a key role in ageing and cancer prevention.

However, with age, these structures naturally shorten, signaling ageing cells to stop dividing -- a crucial safeguard against cancer, according to the study by Sydney-based Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Our data shows telomeres are much more active. They can acutely respond to stress and actively open up to turn on a cellular response that looks like ageing. They do this to avoid cancer," said Tony Cesare of the Genome Integrity Unit at CMRI.