A new cancer treatment more potent than the best-selling cancer drug taxol is
working well in human trials. Epothilone, which comes from soil-dwelling
organisms called myxobacteria, stops cancer cells dividing as taxol does. When a
cell splits in two, elastic protein threads draw the chromosomes apart. But
epothilone binds to these “tubulins” and halts a tumour’s runaway cell division.
“Epothilone stops the chromosomes from being pulled apart,” says Herbie Newell
of the Newcastle University Cancer Research Unit.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
If you aren't terrified by this heatwave, you should be
2
Where, when and how to watch the 2026 solar eclipse
3
We鈥檝e uncovered a master gene that switches on human development
4
Our verdict on The Selfish Gene: An unpopular piece of popular science
5
Woman with Alzheimer's starts conversing again after taking psilocybin
6
Europe鈥檚 heatwave is the hottest and most humid ever
7
I have a 100 per cent chance of getting cancer due to a rare gene
8
What is a聽鈥榥ormal鈥櫬爉emory slowdown, and when should I worry?
9
Screwworm could be the first species targeted by an 'extinction drive'
10
The race to understand how and when Thwaites glacier will collapse
