Saed News: Colorectal cancer accounts for approximately 10% of cancer cases worldwide and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
According to the Family Magazine Service of Saed News, a new study published in Cancer Discovery has revealed why excessive consumption of red meat can lead to colorectal cancer, which is the third most common type of cancer.
Colorectal cancer makes up about 10% of global cancer cases and ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Understanding the link between red meat and cancer has been a research priority for many years.Fortunately, researchers involved in this study used fresh colorectal cancer samples to uncover that the iron present in red meat reactivates an enzyme called telomerase through an iron-sensitive protein known as pyrin.It appears that this protein contributes to cancer progression. All of this is connected to telomerase and telomeres, which generally aid cancer growth.
These chromosomal segments are especially significant because they are composed of DNA sequences and proteins required for cell division. As telomeres facilitate cell division, they become progressively shorter until the body eventually releases telomerase, which helps rebuild telomeres and restore cell division.Cancer cells exploit this system for uncontrolled growth, and this mechanism is what helped researchers identify the link between red meat and cancer.
They discovered that cancer cells actually have very short telomeres. This might seem advantageous because it suggests they can't divide much. But is that really true?
Here’s the catch: When the iron in red meat interacts with the body, it releases proteins that stimulate cells to produce telomerase, enabling them to divide and develop into tumors.Fortunately, with a better understanding of the connection between red meat and cancer, scientists have also found a way to prevent this activation. By specifically targeting "pyrin" and blocking iron from binding to it, they can disrupt the process.This discovery could lead to the development of new cancer treatment strategies.