Скачать или смотреть Why Don’t Large Animals Get More Cancer?

Source: PMID 41162698

Peto’s paradox refers to the surprising observation that large, long-lived animals—like elephants, whales, and even some giant tortoises—do not get cancer at the extremely high rates we would expect. Since cancer risk should theoretically rise with the number of cells and the number of years lived, animals with huge bodies and long lifespans should have far more cancer than humans. Yet they don’t. This paradox has puzzled scientists for decades and pushed researchers to look for special biological protections in these species. One of the most intriguing answers comes from bowhead whales, which can live over 200 years and rarely develop cancer. Research points to a gene called CIRBP (Cold-Inducible RNA-Binding Protein) as a key part of their cancer resistance. In bowhead whales, CIRBP appears to help protect DNA, improve repair mechanisms, and maintain stable cell function even under stress. This heightened genomic maintenance likely prevents the mutations that lead to cancer. Studying CIRBP and similar adaptations may eventually help us understand why some species are so naturally cancer-resistant—and inspire new strategies for human cancer prevention and treatment.

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