All articles tagged with #contagious cancer
Scientists have found a contagious cancer spreading among wild brown bullhead catfish in Lake Memphremagog, the fourth known naturally transmissible cancer. The melanoma-like tumours can spread between fish, with tumor genomes sharing a common lineage across individuals. The health impact is unclear, and how transmission occurs (likely direct contact) remains under study.
Researchers in Vermont and Quebec have identified what appears to be a contagious cancer spreading among brown bullhead catfish in Lake Memphremagog, likely arising from a single cancer cell; more than a third of the fish examined carried melanomas, prompting scientists to study how such cancers transmit and what this could reveal about cancer evolution, while noting there is no evidence that it can infect humans.
Scientists identified a fast-spreading case of bivalve transmissible neoplasia in Puget Sound soft-shell clams, with genetic evidence linking the outbreak to Atlantic Coast lineages; infection rates at two sites surpassed 75% by 2024, and environmental DNA found cancer-related material in nearby waters, highlighting potential impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal communities and prompting monitoring of disease spread in wild shellfish.
Scientists have discovered that a bizarre form of contagious cancer has been spreading among shellfish for centuries, possibly even thousands of years. The cancer cells, which invade and multiply inside their victims, have been found in various species of shellfish, including soft-shell clams, mussels, and cockles. Researchers have identified numerous mutations in the cancer cells, indicating their long history of transmission. The discovery of contagious cancers in shellfish may provide insights into the nature of cancer and potential targets for treatment.