What Elephants Can Teach Us About Cancer Treatment
time.com
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Summary
Dr. Joshua D. Schiffman and his colleagues at the Huntsman Cancer Institute have discovered that elephants possess up to 40 copies of the TP53 gene, compared to humans' two. This gene, known for its role in tumor suppression, helps elephants rarely develop cancer despite their large size and long lifespans. Researchers compared elephant cells to human cells, including those with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, and found that elephant cells are highly efficient in eliminating pre-cancerous cells. This discovery may lead to new cancer prevention strategies in humans by mimicking the cancer-fighting mechanisms of elephants. The study proposes further exploration into drugs or technologies that could enhance the TP53 activity in human cells.
