Attacking front and back ends of cancer

Compounds that induce apoptosis in premalignant or malignant cells generally don't prevent the genetic changes that lead to cancer. Now researchers at the University of Texas have described a compound that might do both.

Jordan Gutterman and university colleagues have focused on the natural chemotherapeutic properties of plants. Their weapons of choice are avicins, a group of triterpenoid saponins, which are extracted from acacia plants. Though similar to the saponins used as an adjuvant by Antigenics Inc. (AGEN, New York, N.Y.), avicins have structural differences. ...