A study of arsenic and leukemia showed why the old-fashioned, slow-acting poison sometimes works against cancer and may point to new treatments for leukemia, scientists said on Monday. A team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found arsenic works in a similar way to bryostatin, a toxin made by coral-like sea animals that has been investigated as a possible cancer treatment. Put together, the two could offer a less toxic alternative to treating some forms of leukemia, the researchers said.
