Naked Mole Rat Cancer Resistance Secret Solved In New Research: Goo In Skin May Have Human Implications
Naked mole rats gave cancer-fighting clues-despite appearing like a homely rodent. Researchers have discovered the secret behind naked mole rats' resistance to cancer: a sugary goo that gives them their distinctive elastic skin.
The cancer secret naked mole rats carry is found in their naked little skin cells. The substance might be the key to preventing or treating malignant tumors. Unlike other rodents, the naked mole rat does not get cancer.
Scientists have found that the naked mole rat has skin cells high in a sugary chemical that stops tumors from ever developing.
A Rochester, New York based team investigated and found that the skin tissues have plentiful high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW-HA), a gooey sugar that helps repair tissue.
When HMW-HA is removed from naked mole-rat cells, they become susceptible to cancer.
A similar chemical is already used to treat arthritis and in anti-wrinkle creams. And, in the future, the substance might lead to cancer therapies. The next steps will be to test the chemical in mice, then in humans.
"There's indirect evidence that HMW-HA would work in people. It's used in anti-wrinkle injections and to relieve pain from arthritis in knee joints, without any adverse effects. Our hope is that it can also induce an anti-cancer response," Dr. Selunov, who was involved in the study, told press.
This finding builds on a host of previous research. Naked mole rats seem to have evolved to prevent cancer, but they're also a bit strange in general. They can live around 30 years and have no fur.
The naked mole rat's elastic skin helps it go through underground tunnels-and the substance that makes the skin "baggy" might prevent cancer.
Oliver Childs of Cancer Research UK, who was not involved in the study, said cancer treatments due to naked mole rats might be "a long way off".
"They're not going to win any beauty contests, but these curious creatures have long interested scientists because of their exceptionally lengthy life spans and resistance to cancer," he said.