The human heart’s constant pumping creates compressive forces that suppress cancer cell growth, according to a recent study in Science. Researchers found that rhythmic pressure from beating hearts inhibits tumor development, while non-beating hearts showed massive cancer growth despite blood flow. Unlike stretching or general movement, only compression confers protection — explaining why the heart resists cancer while lungs remain vulnerable. This discovery shifts focus in cancer biology from broad mechanical forces to specific compressive stress, offering potential pathways for bioengineered therapies that mimic the heart’s tumor-resistant environment. The mechanism highlights how physical forces, not just biochemical signals, can govern cancer progression.
Scientists have identified constant mechanical pressure as the reason the human heart rarely develops cancer, a discovery that challenges assumptions about how mechanical forces influence tumor growth. How mechanical pressure suppresses tumors in heart tissue Researchers led by Serena Zacchigna at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Trieste found that the heart’s … Weiterlesen …