Can a spoonful of sugar treat cancer? No. Actually, the lack therof, might prove a valuable tool in halting the spread of cancer. Leading scientist Dr Robert Falconer is trying to develop new drugs based on the knowledge that there exists on the surface of cancer cells 200 identical simple sugars that make up a long molecule called polysialic acid -- and the more polysialic acid on cancer cells the easier the spread of cancer cells.

And if you are thinking -- well -- that sounds like a rather simplistic explanation of the science behind the research Dr Falconer is involved in regarding the study of sugars on the surface of cancer cells -- you might be right. Then again, according to Dr Falconer, it might be rather simple and yet largely ignored as it has been in preference of research that has focused more on the proteins found on the surface of cancer cells.

The surface of cells carries a complex mixture of proteins and sugars.

The Association for International Cancer Research (AICR) thinks Dr Falconer might be on to something, as they are providing funding for three years of additional research into finding new molecules to stop the increased polysialic acid production cancer cells seem to count on before their move beyond the original tumor location.