A group of chemicals which protect one of the body's anti-cancer genes has been discovered by researchers.

Called tenovins, the chemicals form a 'protective shield' around the p53 gene, which is either disabled or damaged in many cancers.

The researchers, from the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee, explain that the p53 gene is activated by damaged DNA and when activated halts the growth of damaged cells.

Some existing drugs trigger p53's anti-cancer activity by damaging DNA, but this carries its own risk.

Researchers have now shown that the tenovins stop enzymes responsible for flagging up p53 for destruction from working.

It is hoped that this discovery could be used to develop new treatments to increase levels of p53 - and the body's own cancer-fighting ability.

Lead author Dr Sonia Lain, based at the University of Dundee, said: "Our findings indicate that tenovins have the potential to stop tumours. We found that tenovins work by inhibiting enzymes called sirtuins which clip off a crucial chemical group from p53, leading to its destruction.

"We hope that targeting sirtuins with drugs could treat many different cancers in the future."

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