Posted By cYw27 on Sep 13, 2014 | 9 comments

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]

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.

Works Cited

Header Credit: “Naked Mole Rat” by Kevin McGee (Unedited). License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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