The Cancer 'Switch'

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There are many interesting theories about how and why cancer spreads, but several look at what are called the 'switch theory'.

In order for cancer to spread widely, the theory is one or more switches have to be turned on to allow it to happen. Some researchers including those at Stanford believe they've discovered that they can use a kind of dimmer switch to stop a cancer signal from contributing to the development of tumors.

Normally cells are programmed to commit suicide if they detect that they're damaged. The cell says, "I shouldn't be alive, something's wrong with me, I'm broken," and it decides to kill itself. But in certain forms of cancer, this doesn't happen. The discovery of a switch to make this happen could stop cancer spread.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor