Scientists find new drug that kills liver cancer cells

Drug created by the team mimics body's biological structures and has no significant side effects

Professor Daniel Tenen and Dr Liu Bee Hui of the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore have designed a molecule to block the interaction between two proteins linked to cancer growth.
Professor Daniel Tenen and Dr Liu Bee Hui of the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore have designed a molecule to block the interaction between two proteins linked to cancer growth. PHOTO: LEE JIA WEN
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Driving the growth of many cancerous tumours is a protein known as SALL4, which has been classified as an "undruggable target".

But scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Harvard Medical School believe they have found a solution in a new drug.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 16, 2018, with the headline Scientists find new drug that kills liver cancer cells. Subscribe