A group of Korean scientists said Friday they have found a peptide that can effectively aid the body's resistance to radiation during chemotherapy.

A team led by by Doctor Lee Yun-sil at the state-run Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Science said the newly developed heptapeptide attaches itself to heat shock protein 27, or HSP27, generated by lung and breast cancer cells and prevents it from disrupting treatment.

The findings were published in the July issue of the international Cancer Research Journal.

The team has received a domestic patent for its discovery, and is in the process of applying for global recognition of its discovery.