Allopurinol, a drug normally prescribed for gout, is being used to test for
tumours in patients at high risk of developing cancer due to genetic or
environmental factors. Developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore, Maryland, the test uses allopurinol to temporarily slow DNA
production in cancer cells, causing some components of DNA—called
pyrimidines—to accumulate in the blood. These can be detected in the
patient’s urine.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Mind
What to read this week: The 21st Century Brain by Hannah Critchlow
Culture
ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Long covid reveals the harm of one-size-fits-all medical treatment
Leader
Space
Ann Leckie continues to shine with new sci-fi novel Radiant Star
Culture
Comment
Is an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg – or any boss – a good plan?
Regulars
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
100-year-old assumption about the universe may soon be overturned
2
Weird 'transdimensional' state of matter is neither 2D nor 3D
3
Is consciousness more fundamental to reality than quantum physics?
4
The bombshell results that demand a new theory of the universe
5
Thought-provoking photographs capture what it feels like to have ADHD
6
Simple treatment tweak drastically reduces blood loss from severe cuts
7
Is a super El Niño imminent, and what could the impacts be?
8
Why your opinion of used electric vehicles is probably wrong
9
Our verdict on Red Mars: Mostly great, with a few quibbles
10
We may finally have a cure for many different autoimmune conditions
