《中英對照讀新聞》Breast milk could curb cancer 母乳可抑制癌症

◎陳成良

A team of US and Czech scientists has found that an ingredient in the milk of humans, cows and rats could be a key to preventing and treating breast cancer.

美國及捷克科學家組成的一個研究小組發現，人類、牛及鼠類乳汁的一種成分，可能是預防及治療乳癌重要關鍵。

In addition, the team reported recently in the Czech Republic science journal Folia Microbiologica, their research into controlling the cellular ingredient "procathepsin D" could help in the fight against ovarian and prostate cancer.

此外，這個小組最近在捷克科學期刊「薄層微生物學」報告指出，他們對控制細胞成分「組織蛋白 原Ｄ」進行的研究，有助於對抗卵巢癌及前列腺癌。

Czech Academy of Sciences researcher Vaclav Vetvicka and colleagues from the University of Louisville spent the past 10 years experimenting with procathepsin D and its relative cathepsin D. These are molecules called peptides, which are found inside cells and are controlled by hormones.

捷克科學院研究員維特威卡與路易斯維爾大學的同僚，耗費十年對「組織蛋白 原Ｄ」及其相對的「組織蛋白 Ｄ」進行試驗，它們是一種稱為 的分子，存在於細胞內，由荷爾蒙控制。

While searching for a link between procathepsin D and cancer, they found that peptide is secreted by a cancerous cell and then apparently interacts with proteins swimming in the area between cells in ways that can help cancer spread.

在探索「組織蛋白 原Ｄ」與癌症的關係時，他們發現 是由癌細胞分泌，然後顯然與穿流在細胞之間的蛋白質產生互動，從而協助癌細胞擴散。

The researchers reported finding an "activation peptide" that influences the overproduction and secretion of procathepsin D. This led to their conclusion that inhibiting procathepsin D could stop cancer from spreading.

研究人員並指出發現一種能影響「組織蛋白 原Ｄ」過量產生及分泌的「活化 」，這讓他們得出結論指出，抑制「組織蛋白 原Ｄ」可以防止癌細胞擴散。

The report included two suggestions for cancer treatment and prevention: immunising a person with antibodies that recognise and "bind" procathepsin D so that it cannot help cancer spread; or using gene therapy to inhibit the body's production of procathepsin D.

這項報告提出兩個癌症治療及預防的建議：以能夠辨識並「綁住」組織蛋白 原Ｄ的抗體對人進行預防接種，讓它無法協助癌細胞擴散；或利用基因治療來抑制人體製造組織蛋白 原Ｄ。

Since procathepsin D is found in mother's milk, as well as in the milk of cows and rats, the researchers theorised that it may play a role in naturally immunising a woman against cancer.

由於在母乳，乃至牛與鼠類的乳汁中都可以發現組織蛋白 原Ｄ，研究人員推論，它可能發揮功能讓婦女對癌症具有天然抵抗力。

新聞辭典

curb：控制，遏止。例句：Measures have been taken to curb inflation.(已採取措施抑制通貨膨脹。)

experiment：動詞，進行實驗，試驗，通常後接with或on。例句：He is experimenting with drugs to cure hepatitis. （他正在試驗治療肝炎的藥。）

secrete：動詞，分泌。例句Tears are secreted by an organ under the upper eyelid.（眼淚是上眼瞼下面的一個器官所分泌。）名詞為secretion，出現在本文第五段。