Algarve researchers help uncover clues to cancer resistance in African spiny mouse

Researchers from the Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-Ri) at the University of the Algarve and Spain’s Institute for Biomedical Research Sols-Morreale have published a study that could help advance understanding of cancer prevention and regenerative medicine.

Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the research focuses on the African spiny mouse (Acomys), a species known for its remarkable ability to regenerate damaged tissue and its apparent resistance to developing tumours.

Unlike most mammals, which form scar tissue after injury, the African spiny mouse can regenerate skin, muscle and even restore functional connections in the spinal cord. These unusual abilities have made it an increasingly important model for scientists studying tissue regeneration, the University of the Algarve (UAlg) says in a statement.

“For decades, cancer has often been described as ‘a wound that never heals’ because both tissue repair and tumour development involve rapid cell multiplication,” the university says. This led researchers to believe that animals with enhanced regenerative abilities might also face a greater risk of developing cancer.

The new study, however, suggests the opposite may be true.

Researchers compared the African spiny mouse with conventional laboratory mice (Mus musculus) using an experimental model designed to induce skin tumours. While the laboratory mice developed multiple tumours, the African spiny mice developed none.

To understand why, the team monitored gene activity in both species over a period of 28 days. The results showed that the African spiny mouse activates a distinct biological response when exposed to factors that can trigger cancer.

According to the researchers, the species rapidly activates genes that suppress tumour formation while also mounting a stronger immune response involving cells capable of identifying and eliminating potentially cancerous cells.

The study also found that once tissue damage is brought under control, the activity of these genes quickly returns to normal levels.

Another significant finding was an increase in programmed cell death in damaged tissue. This process enables the body to remove cells carrying genetic abnormalities before they can develop into cancer cells, the university explains.

Wolfgang Link, a researcher at Spain’s National Research Council (CSIC) and corresponding author of the study, says the findings challenge long-held assumptions about the relationship between regeneration and cancer.

“These results indicate that regenerative capacity and resistance to cancer are not incompatible and may, in fact, be linked,” he said.

“The African spiny mouse has evolved highly effective mechanisms for controlling cell proliferation, activating both the immune system and tumour-suppressor pathways.”

The researchers believe the findings could help identify new therapeutic targets and contribute to innovative strategies for preventing and treating human cancers, while also advancing the field of regenerative medicine.

The study was carried out by researchers Marta Vitorino, Gonçalo G. Pinheiro, Inês Grenho, Inês M. Araújo, Bibiana Ferreira, Wolfgang Link and Gustavo Tiscornia.