A new study has uncovered surprising connections between the way cancer cells thrive in low-oxygen environments and the genetic adaptations of high-altitude populations, particularly the Sherpas of the Himalayas. This research might open new doors in cancer treatment.
Scientists at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, led by Rodrigo Toledo, conducted an in-depth analysis to understand how tumors manage to grow even when there’s a lack of oxygen, a condition known as hypoxia. They found that both Sherpas and certain types of cancer cells use the same gene—called EPAS1—to adapt and survive in such harsh conditions.
Sherpas, who live at extreme altitudes, have a unique version of the EPAS1 gene that helps them thrive where oxygen levels are significantly lower than at sea level. However, tumors in patients with conditions like cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD), which also keeps them in a constant state of low oxygen, showed mutations in the same gene at alarming rates, up to 90% in some cases.
Toledo emphasized the significance of this finding, remarking, “It was fascinating to observe how these tumors, which can proliferate and even metastasize under a lack of oxygen, used exactly the same gene that enables Sherpas to adapt to hypoxia.” This suggests that both cancer cells and the Sherpa people have found similar solutions to the challenges posed by their environments—one through natural evolution and the other through cancer evolution.
The concept of “convergent evolution,” where unrelated species develop similar traits in response to environmental pressures, is at the heart of this study. For example, just as whales and bats independently developed echolocation, cancer cells and high-altitude populations may tap into the same biological tools to survive tough conditions.
This groundbreaking research not only sheds light on how tumors thrive but also offers potential pathways to identifying new targets for cancer treatment. By understanding how both Sherpas and cancer cells adapt, researchers hope to find new ways to combat cancer’s resilience in low-oxygen settings, which could lead to innovative therapies in the future.
