Starch Powder That can be Sprinkled on Food is Tested as Cure for Bowel Cancer

A powder made from starch that can be sprinkled on food is being tested as a potential bowel cancer treatment. The Royal Melbourne Hospital is testing the genetically modified starch made by the CSIRO to see if it can reduce the disease’s progression. It is being used by more than 100 patients with a genetic condition, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which can develop into bowel cancer. The participants are eating the powder in milk or sprinkling it on cereal and salads to see if it can reduce the number of polyps in their colon. What researchers uncover will help them better understand bowel cancer. There are almost 15,000 new cases in Australia each year, and it kills 4000 people annually.