An Italian study says tiny sea squirts may help stop the growth of some tumors.
A molecule extracted form the sea squirt was injected in 50 patients with advanced liposarcoma, a cancer of the body's fatty tissue, ANSA said Thursday.
An international team of oncologists said in two cases the treatment completely stopped the cancer, while a partial reduction of the tumor was seen in 24 of the 50 patients.
Milan researcher Federica Gross said the finding creates "significant hope for developing new drugs for this condition." He told Lancet Oncology the molecule could also be used in the pre-operative stage of cancer.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
