Every cancer is bad, but tumours, which can reproduce of its own, are the real killer. They can reproduce to form secondary growths. It is dependent on the protein inside the tumour. This protein determines which cancer will grow.

This scientific discovery helps to diagnose the people who are at a risk. Thus, they can be singled out for aggressive treatments. The University of Hong Kong studied 99 people suffering from liver cancer. They can diagnose those who will develop the secondary tumours at an accuracy of 90 percent.

This result was similar with the people suffering from adrenal cancers. The cells are different in adrenal cancer and the liver cancers. Similar results have been found for neck, head and breasts.

"This biomarker may be useful for many types of cancer", says Loh

This is a technique to detect and then the patients are monitored closely. Aggressive treatments are provided for speedy recovery. The protein, which is monitored, is a modified form of carboxypeptidase E. This is an enzyme, which is secreted by the cell, and it helps in processing the proteins.

The scientists are now trying to repeat these results in larger group of patients suffering from different types of cancer.