Lake Memphremagog Transmissible Cancer: Cancer is generally considered to be a disease that develops inside the body of a human or animal. Cancer begins when the body’s own cells start growing in an uncontrolled manner. But scientists have found such a rare cancer, which is not limited to the body of only one organism, but can spread from one fish to another. In a new study published in the journal Nature, scientists have detected such cancer in brown bullhead catfish. These fish are found in Lake Memphremagog, which extends to Vermont in America and Quebec in Canada.

What is special about these fish?

According to the scientist, the melanoma found in these fish is not developing separately in the body of each fish. Instead, cancer cells are spreading from one fish to another and growing there. It is believed to be the first known transmissible cancer found in fish. Also, this is the first time that this type of cancer has been found in a freshwater ecosystem.

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When does cancer occur?

Cancer usually occurs when genetic changes begin to occur in the healthy cells of a person or animal over time. After this the cells start increasing uncontrollably. These cancer cells remain in the same body and can spread to other parts of the body. But transmissible cancer is different from this. In this, living cancer cells leave the body of one organism and enter another organism and start growing there. In this way, the same cancer cells can enter the bodies of different organisms and survive almost like a parasite.

To confirm this, scientists analyzed the genomes of tumors and healthy tissues of the affected fish. Investigation revealed that the tumors taken from different catfish were genetically very similar to each other. At the same time, they were different from the healthy tissues of those fishes in which tumors were present. Many genetic variants out of millions were found in the tumors, which were similar in tumors of different fish, but were not present in healthy cells. This provided strong scientific evidence that these tumors originated from the same cancer cell line rather than arising separately.

Scientists say brown bullhead melanoma has joined the rare examples of naturally occurring transmissible cancers in animals. Earlier, such cancers have been found in dogs, Tasmanian devils and some species of shellfish living in the sea.

How is cancer reaching other fish?

However, the exact method by which this cancer spreads from one fish to another is not yet known. Scientists have suggested some possibilities based on the behavior of the brown bullhead catfish. One of these possibilities is related to the breeding season. During this time, fishes gather at one place in large numbers and come very close to each other. In such a situation, living cancer cells may get a chance to reach from one fish to another.

The second possibility is related to water. The skin, gills and mouth of fish are constantly in contact with water. In such a situation, if cancer cells are present in the water, they can enter the body of other fish through these routes. Brown bullheads live around the bottom of the lake and do not have protective scales on their bodies. Scientists believe that if cancer cells survive for some time in the soil at the bottom of the lake, then the fish passing through there can come in contact with them. However, at present these are only possibilities and no definite route of infection has been proven in the study.

Can cancer spread to humans also?

After this discovery, a question may arise in people’s minds whether this cancer can spread to humans. According to current scientific information there is no evidence for this. The study focused only on brown bullhead catfish and researchers have not reported any risk of it spreading to humans. The human immune system usually recognizes and destroys foreign cells coming from another person. This is the reason why after organ transplant, patients have to be given medicines to suppress the immune system.

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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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