A new study has found a mechanism that could be responsible for increasing the risk of developing cancer among patients with heart disease.
The research, jointly carried out by Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Centre, revealed that small extracellular bubbles or vesicles (sEVs) are released from a sick heart.
These sEVs, that help sick hearts to heal, can travel into the bloodstream, supporting the growth of cancer throughout the body, reported Medical Xpress.
A researcher of the study, Tal Caller, explained, “Patients with heart disease are at a higher risk of developing cancer, and since heart disease is already a leading cause of death, first place in the US and second place in Israel, that means that many people are at risk.”
Caller mentioned, “These are tiny particles (sEVs) wrapped in a simple membrane, which all cells secrete, but because of heart damage, these vesicles are released in greater quantities and contain factors related to inflammation, healing, growth, creation of new blood vessels, and changes in the immune system.”
The supervisor of the research, Prof. Jonathan Leor, claimed, “We showed for the first time that the diseased heart secretes sEVs that contain thousands of different growth factors. These bubbles directly promote the growth of certain tumours and also modulate the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to tumour growth."
Prof. Leor suggested, “Treat the patient's heart to reduce the damage to the cardiac tissue so that it secretes fewer sEVs."
