Cancer treatment breakthrough

Nina Lakhani
Saturday 14 May 2011 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Cancer patients will be saved from unnecessary chemotherapy after scientists discovered that the most unstable cancer cells are actually least likely to multiply and spread. Each cell contains thousands of genes within 23 pairs of chromosomes.

Cancer Research UK scientists have found that patients with the most disrupted or unstable chromosomes are more likely to survive than those with moderate disruption.

The results suggest that while some genetic disruption helps tumours to grow, after a certain point they are too "messed up" to survive. This discovery will allow doctors to avoid giving patients unnecessary chemotherapy, which can cause painful side-effects.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in