- The same protein controls cell multiplication and influences internal clocks
- Researchers believe people’s body clocks likely act as tumour suppressors
- Internal clocks are in sync with the outside and prompts people’s behaviour
- Past research shows cells’ shapes change and influence people’s cancer risk
- Someone is diagnosed with a form of cancer every two minutes in the UK
Jet lag could increase your risk of cancer, new research suggests.
The same protein that controls cell multiplication also influences people’s internal body clocks, a study found.
Lead author Dr Angela Relógio from the Charité-Medical University in Berlin, said: ‘Based on our results, it seems to us that the clock is likely to act as a tumour suppressor.
‘One cannot stop wondering whether disrupted circadian timing should be included as a next potential hallmark of cancer.’
Our internal clock is in sync with external light and dark cues, and prompts people’s behaviour and activity levels.
Someone is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes in the UK, with breast, prostate, lung and bowel tumours making up more than half of cases.
The same protein that controls cell multiplication also influences people’s internal body clocks
How the research was carried out
The researchers analysed a protein known as RAS, which is inappropriately activated in around one quarter of cancerous cells, in mice.
They also investigated two proteins that are known to suppress cancer; called INK4a and ARF.
The findings were published in the journal PLOS Biology.
‘The clock is likely to act as a tumour suppressor’
Results reveal RAS, which is known to control cell multiplication, also influences people’s internal body clocks.
This occurs via the proteins that otherwise suppress cancer.
The researchers believe their findings highlight the influence of people’s internal body clocks on cell multiplication and their potential to prevent cancer.
Dr Relógio said: ‘Based on our results, it seems to us that the clock is likely to act as a tumour suppressor.
‘One cannot stop wondering whether disrupted circadian timing should be included as a next potential hallmark of cancer.’
This comes after researchers from New York University discovered earlier this year cell shape fluctuates over time, which determines their lifespan and could be linked to cancers’ onsets.