CHICAGO (AP) – Why is elephant cancer so rare?
Two new studies say the riddle’s answer might someday help treat humans.
Scientists found that elephants have a huge surplus of a major cancer-fighting gene – 20 copies versus one copy in humans.
The gene helps damaged cells repair themselves or self-destruct when exposed to cancer-causing substances.
Dr. Joshua Schiffman is a pediatric cancer specialist at the University of Utah who led one of the studies. He’s seeking funding for research into treatment that mimic elephants’ cancer-fighting cells.
His study was published Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.