Study finds genetic mutation responsible for making humans more prone to cancer

A team of US researchers has identified a genetic mutation that increased the risk of humans getting cancer, paving the way for new treatments for the deadly disease.

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Researchers from the University of California Davis, US, explain why certain immune cells in humans are less effective at fighting solid tumours compared to nonhuman primates.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, revealed a tiny genetic difference in an immune protein called Fas Ligand (FasL) between humans and nonhuman primates.

This genetic mutation makes the FasL protein vulnerable to being disabled by plasmin -- a tumour-associated enzyme. This vulnerability seems unique to humans and is not found in nonhuman primates, such as chimpanzees.

“The evolutionary mutation in FasL may have contributed to the larger brain size in humans,” said Jogender Tushir-Singh, Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.