Claims of a universal cure for cancer 'misleading'

Conclusion This research has demonstrated the unique abilities of the blind mole rat to resist cancer, even when directly given potent cancer-causing chemicals. In the laboratory, the researchers also demonstrated how connective tissue cells called fibroblasts taken from the animal seem to play an important role in this cancer resistance. These cells prevented the growth of human cancer cells when the two types of cells were grown together in the laboratory. A similar study in a closely related species – the naked mole rat – has also demonstrated similar cancer protection. Scientists have been studying the mole rat for many years. However, the biological underpinnings of the cancer resistance remain unclear. This serves as a reminder that these developments take time and persistence, and that the road to scientific breakthrough is typically long and incremental. This is a useful piece of research that could lead to potentially exciting new avenues of research. It is true that, as the researchers say, this is "pioneering" work, but it is a little too early to suggest that their findings present a "genuine breakthrough". Many discoveries in animal studies fail to show similar effects in humans, so even if the anti-cancer properties of the mole rat are discovered, there is no guarantee they will be useful or applicable to humans. Nonetheless, there remains optimism that understanding the anti-cancer mechanisms of mole rats may one day help inform furth...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cancer Source Type: news