Potentially revolutionary treatment of tumours discovered at University of Huddersfield
Scientists at the University of Huddersfield are working on a new discovery which could open the door for a highly-effective cancer treatment.
The University's research team has developed and patented a cancer treatment regime that exploits the unique properties of the molecule – a protein named Cluster of Differentiation 40 (CD40).
Dr Nik Georgopoulos is a specialist in cancer research and he has been investigating CD40 for almost 16 years.
He said: “In 2002, we first reported that this particular member of the TNF receptor family is unique.
“A lot of members of this family are very good at triggering cell death. But the molecule CD40 is special. It seems to specifically kill tumour cells, but when you activate it on normal cells, they don’t die.
The research into CD40 is in its early stages, but it is hoped in the next couple of years it can be taken through to clinical trials, before being potentially approved for patients.
The research has been welcomed by Cancer Research UK.
The university is now looking to raise £900,000 to help take the research out of the lab and to hopefully benefit cancer patients in the future.