![The naked mole rat, though not a beauty pageant star, won Science magazine’s 2013 Vertebrate of the Year for its role in cancer research. [Graphic by Staff Illustrator]](https://www.curiousyoungwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/naked-mole-rat-pageant-229x300.jpg)
The naked mole rat, though not a beauty pageant star, won Science magazine’s 2013 Vertebrate of the Year for its role in cancer research.
[Graphic by Staff Illustrator]
How ironic that the naked mole rat, a hairless, nontraditional beauty and Science magazine’s 2013 Vertebrate of the Year, might hold the key to understanding and conquering cancer.
The Cancer Epidemic
Cancer is a condition in which abnormal or damaged cells divide in an uncontrolled fashion, potentially invading local tissues or spreading elsewhere in the body through the blood and lymphatic systems. There are more than 100 different types of cancer, often categorized by the organ or cell type in which they start (“What is cancer?” 2014).
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2012, close to 14 million Americans had a history of cancer. It was predicted that in 2014, over 1.6 million new cancer cases would be diagnosed, not including many of the noninvasive cancers, like Susan’s, and over 500,000 people would die of cancer (“Cancer facts & figures,” 2014).
![Damaged cells within the body are usually destroyed in a process called apoptosis, but cancer cells are damaged cells that divide out of control, invading the surrounding tissues. [Graphic by Staff Illustrator]](https://www.curiousyoungwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/cell-division-1024x397.jpg)
Damaged cells within the body are usually destroyed in a process called apoptosis, but cancer cells are damaged cells that divide out of control, invading the surrounding tissues.
[Graphic by Staff Illustrator]
An odd looking creature with prominent walrus-like teeth and a hairless wrinkled body, the naked mole rat begs the expression, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Yet there is perhaps no animal more important to the study of cancer, leading many scientists to consider this uncomely creature in a whole new light.
The naked mole rat, or Heterocephalus glaber, has a very long life span, with some living as long as 32 years, but what makes it unique is its apparent resistance to developing cancer. By comparison, lab mice live around 4 years and often succumb to cancer (Callaway, 2013).
In 2009, Andrei Seluanov and his team at the University of Rochester first described a process of tumor blockade called early contact inhibition that is present in the naked mole rat but not in any other mammalian species. This process might be part of this rat’s unique tumor busting superpower, effectively protecting it from the rapid cell growth and division that occurs with cancer (Seluanov, 2009).

The naked mole rat’s apparent cancer resistance may hold the key to a cure for this awful disease.
[“Naked Mole-Rat 20th Anniversary at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo” by Meghan Murphy, Smithsonian’s National Zoo (Unedited). License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]
The mole rat also has an extremely accurate process of building proteins with very few errors, which likely contributes to their longevity (Poppick, 2013). This process may be another cancer protective mechanism, and might explain why naked mole rats are able to live longer, healthier lives compared to other mammals.
Mirror, mirror…
By earning Science magazine’s coveted award, the naked mole rat has gained repute for more than its looks. This curious little mammal clearly possesses admirable qualities that are more than skin deep. As Susan, who is now cancer free, says, “I’m not fond of rodents, but I may feel differently if they help researchers conquer cancer. I only hope to see that in my lifetime.”
In Brief
- Cancer is caused by the uncontrolled division and potential spread of abnormal cells.
- The naked mole rat, or Heterocephalus glaber, is a mammal with an extremely long life span and apparent resistance to developing cancer.
- Potential mechanisms for this cancer resistance may involve the production of long chains of hyaluronic acid that coat tumor cells and prevent their growth, as well as early contact inhibition, which interferes with tumor growth.
- Naked mole rats also make very few mistakes when synthesizing proteins which may contribute to their cancer resistance and longevity.
- Future research will attempt to further clarify these characteristics, and to artificially mimic them in other species.
Header Credit: “Naked Mole Rat” by Kevin McGee (Unedited). License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
This article was written by cYw27. As always, before leaving a response to this article please view our Rules of Conduct. Thanks! -cYw Editorial Staff
September 30, 2014
Thank you cYw for making such complicated diseases accessible! So many families (including mine) have a history of cancer, and stories like these make me so hopeful for the future. Wonderful writing as well. I will be sharing this with my friends and family!
October 21, 2014
Thank you for your compliment, it is much appreciated!
October 16, 2014
Thank you for writing about naked mole rats. They are very interesting to work with in research, and you presented important information about them.
October 21, 2014
I agree, the naked mole rat is very fascinating and has a lot of potential to teach us about cancer.
March 29, 2015
It was fascinating to learn about the role of the naked mole rat in cancer research through reading this article and it was especially interesting to me personally because of the research I have been doing in my high school on breast cancer metastasis. I love the way you brought to light the importance of the naked mole rat by describing what it is that is unique about this animal. Hyaluronic acid also seems like an essential topic to discuss, as you pointed out its potential role in stopping tumor growth and in contrast, I have also read that it is believed that hyaluronic acid promotes cancer cell growth and spreading in certain cases. I definitely enjoyed this article and want to learn more about the subject!
April 5, 2015
Thank you for your comments! Your research sounds very interesting.
April 29, 2015
This is a really interesting article. I worked at a cancer research lab this summer, and always find new developments really interesting. This would be a great article to share with my science research class!!
January 19, 2016
very interesting to learn about mole rat.
January 13, 2017
it was very interesting to learn about the naked mole rats and how they relate to cancer.