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Sugary Substance in Naked Mole Rat's Skin Could Hold the Key to Treating Cancer
Posted on Jul 09, 2013 by Sergio Ulloa (G+)
Scientific studies published in the journal, Nature show that a research team have found that the naked mole rat never gets cancer, due to a unique property of its skin cells. A research team from the University of Rochester, New York, USA have been investigating the naked mole rat's anti-cancer properties with the hope that this could hold the key to preventing or treating cancerous tumours.
The team have discovered that the naked mole rat's skin-cells are rich in a natural, sugary substance that is thought to be vital in preventing the development of tumours. In the long term, these findings could lead to new human cancer therapies.
Unlike rats, mice or other small rodents, the naked mole rat does not get cancer in old age. Further to this, the naked mole rat has been found to live up to thirty years of age, which is unprecedented amongst small rodents. The US team found that the naked mole rat's skin tissues were rich in high molecular weight hyaluronan, a sugary substance that helps repair tissue. Similar versions of this substance have been harnessed in the past to relieve arthritic pain, and in cosmetic wrinkle-filling treatments.
The research conducted by the team shows that when this substance is removed from the mole rat's cells, the creatures can become susceptible to cancer, suggesting that this sugary goo plays an important part in the prevention of cancer in normal conditions.The particularly viscous liquid is thought to give the naked mole rat its characteristic 'baggy' or flexible skin, which helps the rat to slip through underground tunnels in its natural habitat.
The team sees the next step as testing the chemical in mice, and then in human cells. Experts emphasise that the solution to cancer is still a long way off, but that these findings are promising and an exciting step in this field.