Naked mole rat model reveals new insights into lung cancer

 

In a significant biological breakthrough, scientists at Moffitt Cancer Center have engineered the first model of lung cancer in naked mole rats, a species famous for its natural cancer resistance. Using CRISPR-Cas9, the team introduced a common oncogene found in human lung cancer but discovered that this alone was insufficient to trigger tumor growth in the animals. Malignancy only occurred when the oncogene was combined with the inactivation of two specific tumor-suppressor genes, p53 and Rb1.
This finding highlights that cancer development in naked mole rats closely mirrors the multi-step pathogenesis of human cancer, distinguishing it from many mouse models where fewer genetic "hits" are often required. By establishing this unique model, researchers gain a powerful new tool to study the early stages of tumor suppression and resistance. The insights gained from these animals could reveal novel biological mechanisms that may translate into new preventative or therapeutic strategies for human lung cancer.


Read the original article at: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-genetically-cancer-naked-mole-rats.html



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