Why do people with heart disease have an increased risk of cancer? Scientists found the reason

A study has shown why people with heart disease have an increased risk of cancer

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Scientists have found a reason for the increased risk of cancer in people with heart disease. It is hidden in small organelles that the heart secretes for self-healing.

Such conclusions were reached by a group of Israeli scientists in their study, published in the scientific journal Circulation, informs Medical Xpress.

For the first time, the connection between heart failure and cancer was discovered in 2013. Since heart disease is one of the most common causes of death, many people are at risk.

A new study has shown that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), tiny cell structures wrapped in a membrane, contribute to the development of cancer. They contribute to the reduction of inflammation, healing, growth, creation of new blood vessels and changes in the immune system.

Vesicles are produced by all cells. However, due to heart damage, their number increases significantly.

“After heart muscle injury and deterioration to heart failure, vesicles containing growth factors (a type of substance that can stimulate growth – ed.) and small nucleic acid molecules that promote cell division are released. These sEVs help heal damaged heart tissue . However, when released from a damaged heart, these vesicles travel through the body’s circulatory system, eventually reaching cancerous growths.” – explained Tal Kaller, co-author of the study.

To test their hypothesis, the researchers inhibited the formation of vesicles in animals with heart disease. They found that cancer risk decreased with depression.

However, it cannot be used as a treatment, because inhibiting the formation of vesicles causes serious side effects. Therefore, the only option is to reduce the damage to the heart tissue.

Scientists decided to use the drug for the treatment of heart failure. Thanks to it, in animals with an early stage of the disease, the heart secreted 30% fewer vesicles, and cancer tumors grew more slowly.

“Current cardiac treatments may need to be adjusted to also take cancer risk into account. In addition, biomarkers may be found among patients with heart disease that will indicate an increased risk of cancer, as not all patients are at increased risk.” – Jonathan Leor, co-author of the study, said.

We will remind, the study showedthat a heart attack significantly increases the risk of developing other serious diseases, including kidney failure and diabetes.