Genetic mutations promote tumor regression in Tasmanian Devils

Scientists at the Washington State University have found that genes and other genetic modifications have been reported in tumor cancer tumors in Tasmania debris.

Their research is the first demon to understand the facial tumor disease, almost 100% of the cancer and to understand what is contagious, to understand how to use a small percentage of Tasmanian demons and to treat cancer and other mammals. as well.

"Tasmanian demons are also human beings that have a role in tumor regression," said Mark Margres, a Ph.D. postdoctoral assistant at the University of Clemson. "Still in a very early stage yet, research may eventually help respond to tumor regression by demons, humans and other mammals that do not have the necessary genetic modification."

Demons disappear

The demons of Tasmania were on the verge of extending the depletion of the devil's facial tumor diseases, among the four most popular ways of transmitting cancer and, ultimately, the most deadly. Since its first documentary in 1996, the disease has underestimated 80% of Tasmanian demons, the only place where animals live.

Margres is part of an international team of researchers, Andrew Storfer, under the direction of the genetic evolutionist and WSU biology professor.

Over the past decade, the Storfer team has investigated how some demonic populations of Tasmanian demons are developing genetic resistance to democracy, which can lead to the disappearance of species.

A year ago, Storfer's Australian assistant, Manuel Ruiz, Rodrigo Hamede and Menna Jones warned that something unusual in Tasmania's only region was captured and labeled by demons. A small amount of demons that had developed facial tumors did not die. Rather, in a few months time, the tumors were far away.

"This was very common and we wanted to demonstrate the evidence of this genomic deformation, especially better."

The researchers were seized eight Tasmanian demons undergoing Tumor Regression and did not have three.

Tumors lost debris discovered genes that distinguished between three genomic regions with immune response and cancer-related genes and other mammals.

"We identified some candidate genes, identified genes that could be important for the response to tumor regression, and now we can genetically test genes to see the same tumor regression response," said Margres. "It is difficult to say something that is not as accurate as the sample, this study is the first step in the genetic trait of the tumor reduction genes".

The results of Margres and Storfer's works were published last month Genome Biology and Evolution. Researchers study the next step to study the tumor genome, if they are specific mutations or mutations that cause tumor contamination.

Knowledge of tumor regression mechanisms

Tumor regression is not the only phenomenon for Tasmanian demons. Although very rare, it has been documented in human cancer.

One of these cancers is Merkel Cell Carcinoma, a rare type of skin cancer, on the face, head or neck.

The doctors have seen a sudden tumor regression on Merkel Cell Kinchoma Patient for the first time in 1986 and at least 22 times. However, the researchers do not know for sure what tumors are going away.

Storfer and Margres expect that Tasmanian demons have the ability to better understand the genetic basis of tumor regression in order to identify general mechanisms underlying tumor regression by Merkel Cell Kinchkin and other human cancers.

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