BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Shark blood 'offers cancer hope'

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Shark blood 'offers cancer hope': "Australian scientists have found that antibodies in shark blood could potentially be a potent weapon in the fight against cancer.

Sharks have immune systems similar to humans, but their antibodies - the molecules which actually fight disease - are exceptionally resilient.

Researchers believe this quality could be harnessed to help slow the spread of diseases such as cancer.

Potentially, it could lead to a new generation of drug treatments.

The Australian team found that shark antibodies can withstand high temperatures as well as extremely acidic or alkaline conditions.

This means they would potentially be able to survive in the harsh environment of the human gut, which is crucial to the development of a cancer-fighting pill. "