Elephants have an amazing defense against cancer

Elephants are equipped with an immune defense against cancer, can prevent the formation of tumors, say the scientists. They try to explain why the cancer rate in these animals is lower compared to their size. A team from the University of Utah researchers have claimed that "nature has already found solutions to protect against cancer," and considering the development of new treatment. But these experts say it would emphasize the "absurd" and "ridiculous" the actions of people that increase the risk of developing cancer. Some felt that every cell is to become cancerous and therefore more one has, the greater the risk of developing cancer increases (cancer development risk is proportional to the number of cells in the body). Thus, if an elephant has 100 times more than human cells, these stem mammals are 100 times more likely to be affected by the disease. And despite all this, the study, published in the journal Journal of the American Medical Association shows that only 5% of dead elephants are due to cancer, against 25% for men. According to researchers this difference is due to the DNA of elephants model code of life. The cause of cancer consists of the mutation of the DNA into the cells causing faulty instructions causing uncontrollable cell multiplication. But animals, too, have "smoke detectors" supposed to identify these cells in order to repair or destroy. One of these detectors is called TP53 and elephants have at least 20 while humans possess only one. Therefore, the elephants seem much more motivated to remove kill these cells when they are about to go wrong.

Dr. Joshua Schiffman, researcher and pediatric oncologist, said: "Logically, the cancer rate among elephants should be huge and that their case should no longer exist because of the high risk of cancer development. "" Nature has already found protection solution against cancer and we can only take the example of animals to see how they struggle against this problem to adapt our cancer prevention strategies for men. "Animals have different defense strategies against cancer, as is the case of the naked mole rat Rat, who has a remarkable rate of resistance to cancer. By cons, Professor Mel Greaves, of the Institute of Cancer Research in London, believes it should only focus on the reasons for incidence as high in men. He told the BBC News website: "While we have the same defense mechanism against cancer than the chimpanzee, the incidence of cancer in humans and much higher. This could be explained by the uniqueness of the human species, with very rapid social change in a very short period. "He gave the example of the growth of the cancer causing factors such as obesity and exposed sun exposure (tanning). "You will never see an elephant that smokes! ", he added. 

Menopause is also a potential explanation for the deficit defenses against cancer in humans. From an evolutionary acceptance, a "success" is measured by the number descendants rather than longevity. Elephants have the highest reproductive rates towards the end of their life, while men can stay alive whole decades after menopause. This means that men are always the target of evolutionary pressure to develop cancer prevention means in the elderly population. "Men have a lifetime extent socially, beyond simple reproductive logic - no species is capable," concluded Prof. Greaves.