by Steve Hickey, PhD
(OMNS July 30, 2013) Naked mole-rats are highly resistant to cancer despite their living much longer than other small rodents. While laboratory mice generally live less than three years and often die of cancer, mole-rats can live up to 30 years yet tumours are rare. Researchers recently claimed that they had found an explanation.[1] It appears that naked mole-rats have a very strong tissue matrix based on a long-chain biomolecule called hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan). Supplement users may recognise this molecule from its wide use in reversing arthritis along with other glycosaminoglycans such as glucosamine and chondroitin. These supplements are used to regrow and reinforce damaged cartilage and other connective tissues. Similarly, hyaluronic acid helps mole-rats strengthen their tissues for tunnelling through soil and they have a particularly large version of the molecule. An enzyme called hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid. This and related enzymes work slowly in mole-rats which allows hyaluronic acid to accumulate in their tissues.
[Sponsor links: Hyaluronic Acid ]
Hyaluronic Acid Inhibits Cancer
The abundance of hyaluronic acid in mole-rats strengthens the surrounding tissues, challenging their invasion by cancer cells. Tiny tumours have difficultly growing larger and spreading, both locally and to distant sites (metastases). In addition, hyaluronic acid acts as a signal inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Naked mole-rat cells are seemingly far more responsive to the signal, making them even less likely to form a spreading cancer. This research “breakthrough” was recently reported in Nature, one of the world’s leading scientific journals, and quickly picked up by the international media.[1] The study supports orthomolecular medicine since hyaluronic acid, available as a supplement in health food stores, is a natural molecule found in the body. So why are we somewhat less than impressed?
Vitamin C Prevents Spread of Cancer
The recent paper on cancer in mole-rats confirms and reinforces earlier findings. Going back to 1966, surgeon and orthomolecular doctor Ewan Cameron published a book on hyaluronidase and cancer which is now an expensive collector’s item.[2] Over 30 years ago Ewan Cameron and Linus Pauling provided an updated explanation of how high doses of vitamin C prevent the spread of tumors.[3,4] They suggested that cells are restrained from proliferating by the highly viscous nature of hyaluronic acid and other glycosaminoglycans. In order to spread, cancer cells must escape from this restriction by breaking down these molecules in their local tissues.
Read more, http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v09n15.shtml
