Mouse study links heart's constant beating to a hostile environment for cancer cells

Heart disease and cancer are leading causes of death, yet tumors are rarely found in the heart, a fact clinicians have noted without clear explanation.

Researchers reported in a Science paper that the mechanical forces generated by the heart’s continual beating and blood flow create a hostile environment for cancer cells. In mouse experiments, the constant pressure appeared to suppress tumor formation.

The findings are preliminary, but external experts said they suggest new avenues for cancer therapy by mimicking the heart’s mechanical stress. The study highlights a possible mechanism behind the heart’s resistance to cancer.