An interesting study performed by Professor Chris Shaw and his colleagues at Queen’s University Belfast has unveiled that two proteins found in the secretions of frog skin can disrupt the growth of blood vessels.

Angiogenesis is the process of growing new blood vessels. A peptide from the skin of the Waxy Monkey Frog switches off angiogenesis while the peptide discovered in the Giant Firebellied Toad can stimulate angiogenesis. The finding is significant, with researchers indicating that it has the potential to change cancer from a sometimes fatal condition to a chronic one.

Ultimately as tumors grow, they need to develop their own blood supply in order to continue to grow. The angiogenesis process has been a target of drug development companies for years, however no effective drugs have yet to be introduced to interrupt and control the process. The new peptide discovery could change that.

For more information about this exciting study, please refer to http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/227934.php.