Researchers have discovered that pancreatic cancer cells may be killed off by a [b]Chinese[/b] herbal extract, according to a [s]Daily Digest[/s] report. A protein known as GRP78 is highly abundant in cancer cells, compared to normal cells, and is responsible for preventing cells from being destroyed. It is believed that this protein plays a key role in the ability for pancreatic cancer cells to survive, despite treatment. Now researchers at the [b]University of Minnesota[/b] have discovered a Chinese extract from the herb Tirpterygium wilforii, which is found to potentially suppress GRP78 and inevitably cause the death of pancreatic cancer cells. The extract, known as triptolide, has been previously shown to have an effect on the viability of pancreatic cancer cells, and their ability to multiply with such stamina.
[link url=http://dailydigestnews.com/2014/07/chinese-herbal-extract-may-help-kill-off-pancreatic-cancer-cells-researchers-say]Full Daily Digest report[/link]
[link url=http://ajpgi.physiology.org/content/306/11/G1011]American Journal of Physiology: Gastrointestinal and Liver abstract[/link]