Israeli researchers have discovered a biological pathway that directly links heart disease and increased cancer risk, offering a promising means of reducing cancer risk in heart disease patients.

The study, by researchers at Tel Aviv University and Tel Aviv’s Sheba Medical Center, found that the link between heart disease and cancer lies in the secretion of extracellular bubbles from the heart after a heart attack.

Contrary to previous assumptions that this increased risk was due to factors such as smoking, diabetes and obesity, a recent study published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Circulation found that cells secreted by the heart after a heart attack External bubbles were found to increase the risk of heart attack. cancer.

“We showed for the first time that diseased hearts secrete bubbles containing thousands of different growth factors. These bubbles do not promote the growth of any tumors, but they certainly affect the immune system. , tumors in the body may benefit from the foam,” said lead researcher Professor Yonatan Riolu, who works at both TAU and Sheba.

Air bubbles called extracellular vesicles (sEVs) released by the diseased heart are intended to aid the healing process in heart tissue. However, researchers have discovered that these bubbles mistakenly travel through the bloodstream and promote the growth of cancer cells throughout the body. These bubbles contain growth factors and nucleic acid molecules that not only promote cell division but also influence the immune response that promotes cancer growth.

The researchers tested their hypothesis in an animal model of heart disease. Researchers observed that by inhibiting the formation of extracellular bubbles, cancer risk was significantly reduced. However, this intervention resulted in undesirable side effects, prompting the team to explore alternative strategies.

By administering spironolactone, an established heart failure drug, researchers were able to reduce the secretion of extracellular bubbles from the heart, which significantly slowed the growth of cancerous tumors. The findings offer a promising avenue to reduce cancer risk in people with heart disease.

The researchers stressed that further research is needed. However, identifying biomarkers among heart patients could help doctors identify those with heart disease who are at high risk for cancer, the researchers noted.