Scientists have found a way to diagnose cancer at an early stage by means of water molecules, reports Eurekalert.
Specialists of the University of the Basque Country studied two types of antigens Tn that appear in 90 percent of cases of cancer and are considered as promising biomarkers for detection of diseased tissues.
It is noted that while interaction with water both Tn antigens were entered into the characteristic reaction. So, the first kind associated with threonine, takes a hard form in the solution, and the second is associated with the serine becomes softer. This method of tracking the evolution of molecules Tn, according to scientists, helps to assess the degree of development of oncological diseases.
In addition, the researchers plan to develop a therapy against cancer through the development of a synthetic analogue of the Tn antigen.