Heart expert explains why heart cancer is rare

According to the National Cancer Center , cancer (malignant tumors) will account for approximately 25% of all deaths by 2023, making it the leading cause of death. While lung cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer are the leading causes of cancer deaths by site , cancer of the heart, the most important organ, is known to be extremely rare. Julie Filippi, a biologist specializing in cardiovascular research at the University of Pittsburgh, explains why heart cancer is so rare.

Why is heart cancer so rare? A biologist explains
https://theconversation.com/why-is-heart-cancer-so-rare-a-biologist-explains-256055

Cancer develops when cells grow uncontrollably, sometimes causing serious illness. Because every tissue and organ in the body is made up of billions or even trillions of cells, cancer can theoretically occur anywhere, but there are some areas of the body where it occurs less frequently, such as the heart. Statistics show that heart cancer develops in approximately 3 out of every 10,000 people, while breast cancer affects 1 in 20 women.

Filippi explains that heart cancer is rare because the cells in the heart are highly resistant to cancer.

Cells divide to grow, replace old cells, and repair damaged tissue, and the frequency of cell division varies depending on the cell type, function, age, etc. The process of cell division is strictly controlled by molecular checkpoints . However, if genes are damaged during DNA replication by harmful substances, ultraviolet rays, radiation, etc., mutations can occur, which can lead to cancer.

The heart is the first organ to form and begin functioning during early development, but after adulthood, the number of cell divisions decreases dramatically. After the age of 20, the frequency drops significantly, and less than half of heart cells are replaced during a person's lifetime. Fewer cell divisions mean fewer errors during DNA replication, lowering the risk of developing cancer.

Another advantage of the heart's protected location inside the chest is that it is less susceptible to the direct effects of carcinogens, such as ultraviolet light that the skin is exposed to and toxins that the lungs breathe in. However, this low cell division rate also comes with the drawback of limiting the heart's ability to repair and replace cells damaged by disease, injury, or aging.

However, tumors can still develop in the heart. In most cases, this is due to metastasis, where cancer cells originating in another part of the body travel to the heart via the bloodstream. Certain cancers of the chest and skin tend to metastasize to the heart, but this is still rare. However, once heart cancer develops, it can become severe and progress rapidly.

'Understanding the mechanisms of cardiac cell division and the causes of these changes will help us understand diseases and develop new treatments,' said Filippi. In recent years, new cardiac disease models have been developed using techniques to transform blood cells into cardiac cells, opening up the possibility of future cardiac regenerative therapies.

'Understanding why cancer doesn't occur is just as important to developing better treatments as understanding why it does occur,' said Filippi. 'The answer lies deep within, literally in the heart.'