Geneticists have determined why men are more susceptible to liver cancer
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Recently, geneticists have identified the reasons why liver cancer affects mainly men. Specialists of the University of Michigan have revealed a genetic deviation, which, according to scientists, increases the chances of developing hepatocellular carcinoma - the most common form of cancer, as well as type II diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the factors that leads to the development of a malignant tumor in the liver, but usually it is affected by people who have hidden problems, such as viral hepatitis or excessive alcohol consumption. Hepatocellular carcinoma is two to four times more common among the male population of the earth. Specialists managed to determine that the NCOA5 gene is present in both men and women. It is this gene that provokes the production of pathogenic cells that lead to cancerous formation. And even before the formation of the most malignant tumor, a decrease in sensitivity to glucose develops. This phenomenon was observed in all laboratory mice that participated in the experiment.
Scientists suggest that men are more likely to become a victim of a malignant tumor because of the difference in the hormonal background. The female body produces more estrogen, which can somehow protect against the development of diabetes and cancer. In the male body, there is less estrogen, so they are in a high-risk group.
Several statistical studies have shown that the development of hepatocellular carcinoma is less common in coffee lovers. As experts suggest, at least three cups of this drink a day reduce the risk of liver cancer by 50%, in particular, the probability of developing the most common form of cancer - hepatocellular carcinoma - decreases by 40%.
One of the recent studies of the effects of caffeine on the risk of developing cancerous tumors confirmed the preliminary assumptions of specialists in this field. According to the author of the work (Carlo La Vecchia), the positive effect of caffeine can be explained by the fact that in part this drink is able to prevent the development of diabetes mellitus (which is already partly proved fact). It is diabetes that is the main element that provokes a cancerous tumor. In addition, the well-known fact that caffeine protects the liver from cirrhosis. Therefore, experts suggest that caffeine is also able to significantly reduce the risk of developing liver cancer.
Liver cancer ranks sixth in the world in terms of prevalence among all malignant formations in humans. This type of cancer is third in the frequency of deaths from this severe disease. Hepatocellular carcinoma in the case of detection of malignant formation in the liver is determined in 90% of cases.
Liver cancer is a rather dangerous form of oncology, since in the overwhelming majority of cases it can be detected only in the late stages. At the very beginning of development, the tumor does not manifest itself in any way, besides special tests to determine this form of cancer have not been developed. Small in size tumors are almost not diagnosed during clinical examinations of the patient.
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