According to the Israeli business daily Globes,
researchers have isolated a gene, called Franz, whose
function develops the spread of cancerous metastases and
suppresses inflammatory reactions. The research was a joint
effort of Professor Yisrael Valudevsky, director of the
Biological Laboratory for Malignant Growths at the Hadassah
Medical Center at Ein Kerem in Jerusalem, and scientists of
the Insight Co. at the Rabin Science Park at Rechovot.
They are developing synthetic chemicals to resist and delay
the work of this enzyme. Tests on laboratory animals showed
an increased production of the enzyme generated heightened
metastases from cancerous growths which can be eliminated by
blocking the enzyme by the use of various materials. The
Insight Co. is now in the process of developing chemical
medications to inhibit the Franz gene and create antibodies
to block its operation.
