Tartu University Researcher Makes Unique Contribution to Battle Against Cancer
Darja Lavõgina, a fresh PhD at the University of Tartu, broke ground with a dissertation that brings new insight to developers of cancer-fighting medicine.
The strategy is unique, providing a whole new direction to the development of protein kinase inhibitors, said Stefan Knapp, of the University of Oxford, reported ETV.
The 24-year-old Lavõgina researched a specific group of enzymes (proteins that catalyze chemical reactions) that can also lead to new revelations for diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
"The results show that there is a group of chemicals that can be used to block certain protein kinases, by which we could cure numerous diseases," said Lavõgina. "Unfortunately, it's not so easy. Cancer is a disease that develops in the human body and it develops with the body. Cancer also varies on an individual basis. But lets say that we are now one step closer to getting rid of all the various types of cancer and maybe other diseases as well."