It's almost impossible to think of anything associated with cancer that could come to any good, but researchers have discovered a cancer-causing protein that might help in the treatment of spinal cord injuries and Alzheimer's disease. According to the Columbia University Medical Center researchers, the same process this protein, called Id, uses in the growth of cancer could also potentially be used to re-grow axons that are damaged in spinal cord injuries and neurological diseases. This cancer-causing protein, Id, is found in brain and breast cancers.

In discovering and understanding how Id works, they have also found that an enzyme in healthy cells, called APC, breaks Id down. Cancer cells have a high level of Id in each cell. The researchers will conduct studies on how to harness APC and potentially eliminate Id in cancer cells. Hopefully their hunch will lead to something that can become part of how we eventually stop cancer. When I read about this is occurred to me that researchers are making new discoveries almost constantly that give them a better understanding of how cancer works, which I do believe is ultimately how we solve any problem. However, it will be more exciting when the discoveries finally move beyond the isn't this interesting phase to practical application.