Scientists may have found the key to curing cancer after identifying the gene that switches on disease-fighting "Natural Killer" blood cells.

The breakthrough discovery could even help scientists find the key to preventing autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis
The gene discovered, known as E4bp4, causes blood stem cells to turn in to Natural Killer (NK) immune cells.

This means researchers can now work on a drug to boost the body's production of front line tumour-killing cells, creating new ways to treat cancer.
NK cells – a type of white blood cell – are a major component of the human body's innate, quick-response immune system.

They provide a fast front line defence against tumours, viruses and bacterial infections, by scanning the human body for cells that are cancerous or infected with a virus or a bacterial pathogen, and killing them.

The gene identified in the study, carried out at Imperial College London and the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research, is the primary driver that causes blood stem cells to turn into NK cells.
Currently NK cells isolated from donated blood are sometimes used to treat cancer patients, but the effectiveness of this is limited because NK cells can differ from person to person.

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