UC Davis scientists identify new cancer treatment

Scientists at UC Davis in California claim to have identified a “switch” that can activate cancer cell death, potentially revolutionizing cancer treatment.

Driving the news: The discovery can target and eliminate cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, according to researchers from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.

• The findings were published in the Nature journal Cell Death & Differentiation.
• The new treatment has not yet been tested on animals or humans but has shown success in lab studies. 
• The combination of immunotherapy with the activation of the identified “switch” could transform cancer treatment.
• However, the treatment is more effective in treating liquid cancers, such as leukemia, rather than solid tumors.
• Such treatment would be costly, estimated at approximately $500,000.