First Case of Cancerous Tumor Found in Great White Shark
OutdoorHub Reporters 12.10.13
Contrary to popular belief, sharks do get cancer. According to LiveScience, scientists have known about this for over 150 years. Although cancer is very rarely found in shark species, their reputation for immunity comes more from purveyors of shark cartilage rather than fact. Some medical traditions hold that consuming shark cartilage is a way to ward off, or even treat, cancer.
Sharks are susceptible to cancer much like other animals are, and scientists recently documented the first case of a tumor found on a great white shark.
“This was a very unusual sight as we have never before seen a [great] white shark with tumors,” said study co-author Rachel Robbins, a researcher at the Fox Shark Research Foundation in Australia.
However, just because this is a rare sighting does not mean cancer is uncommon among sharks. Robbins told LiveScience that tumors have been documented in at least 23 different species of shark, proving that the aquatic predators still fall victim to the disease.
So where did the fish’s reputation for resisting cancer come from? As it turns out, there may be a glimmer of truth to the myth. The BBC reported that British researchers at the University of Aberdeen are currently studying whether shark antibodies can halt or even stop the growth of cancer. According to the project’s leader, Dr. Helen Dooley, it is possible that sharks manufacture antibodies that halt the growth of certain cancer-promoting molecules. Dooley hopes that with further study, shark antibodies may be used to prevent breast cancer in humans.
One thing scientists can agree on is that eating shark cartilage, in all probability, will not prevent cancer.
“Sharks get cancer,” said shark researcher David Shiffman. “Even if they didn’t get cancer, eating shark products won’t cure cancer any more than me eating Michael Jordan would make me better at basketball.”
