Thursday 2 August 2018 6:50AM (view full episode) [IMG] Image:...

Thursday 2 August 2018 6:50AM (view full episode)
Image: Australian scientists have discovered a new type of drug that puts cancer cells to 'sleep'. (DarkoStojanovic: Public Domain) Link to larger image.Image: Australian scientists have discovered a new type of drug that puts cancer cells to 'sleep'. (DarkoStojanovic: Public Domain)
Australian scientists have discovered a new type of drug that puts cancer cells to 'sleep' — raising hopes that it could one day be a powerful new weapon in fighting the deadly disease.
The world-first discovery could also give cancer patients an alternative to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which often have debilitating side effects such as nausea, hair loss and fatigue.
The researchers say these new class of drugs have already shown promising results in halting the progression of some blood and liver cancers, as well as in delaying a relapse in the cancer.
A decade in development, the breakthrough is being published in the journal Nature today.