According to scientists at the University of California, a cellular defect that disturbs the production of proteins in human cells and can cause vulnerability to cancer has been discovered.

It was also found that a new generation of inhibitory drugs guarantees to cure this defect.

Results of this research have wide implications in the battle against cancer and can help in the treatment of lymphoma and several other forms of the disease, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, brain cancer and multiple myeloma.

The findings came to surface in the laboratory of UCSF faculty scientist, Davide Ruggero. His lab team is studying how defects in protein synthesis can result in cancer susceptibility.

Ruggero said, "Our work has the potential to create real, tangible benefits for the medical community".

The researchers focused on a multi-protein unit known as mTOR, which stands for the 'mammalian target of rapamycin'. mTOR controls many significant processes in mammalian cells, including cell survival and proliferation.

mTOR incorporates information about the cell's nutritional and energy requirements, and drives the cell to produce key proteins for cell growth. However, cancer cells use this indication for their own growth.

Researchers say that when the cells in the body lose the capability to control mTOR activity, mTOR is considered 'hyperactivated'.

Due to this hyperactivation, protein synthesis rates mount. Cells begin to multiply without limits and at the same time become immortal, which leads to tumor formation.

The results of this research were published in the March issue of the scientific journal, Cancer Cell.