Latest news with #Peto
Sydney Morning Herald
20-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
At 2m tall, I'm at greater risk of cancer. An elephant could fix that
Kean spoke to researchers scouring the genomes of large animals for clues as to why they're so good at suppressing cancer despite having trillions more cells than we do. Some of what they've found can make human cancer cells self-destruct. 1000 times better at cancer suppression Body size and cancer rates only correlate between members of the same species, not between different animals. For example, little dogs such as Pomeranians, shih tzus and chihuahuas have a 10 per cent chance of dying from cancer while the risk for larger breeds including mastiffs and Burmese mountain dogs is up around 40-50 per cent, a 2024 study reported. If this correlation between size and cancer risk applied across different species, mice would never die from cancer and elephants would barely make adulthood. By one estimate, half of all blue whales should get colon cancer by the time they're 50 and all whales should have it by the time they're 80. But that's not the case. Mice actually have a colon cancer risk comparable to humans, even though they're tiny. About 46 per cent of wild mice raised in a lab, in fact, die from some kind of cancer. Blue whales do get colon cancer but at nowhere near the rates you'd expect for their size. They live as long as we do. So what's going on? 'Peto's Paradox suggests that large, long-lived animals such as the blue whale have evolved mechanisms capable of suppressing cancer 1000 times better than humans,' write Professor Carlo Maley and Dr Aleah Caulin in Trends in Ecology & Evolution. If we could harness the cancer-suppression mechanisms of mega-animals, they argue, 'then we could potentially eradicate cancer as a public health threat in humans'. Peto's paradox disproved? Just as I got excited about the idea of using the cancer-suppressing superpowers of the world's largest creatures to treat human cancer, I came across a new paper that slapped me down. No evidence for Peto's paradox in terrestrial vertebrates, the headline read. The authors analysed a dataset of 16,000 necropsy records for 292 species of mammals, amphibians, birds and reptiles and found larger animals did get more cancer. 'We show that there is no evidence for Peto's paradox across amphibians, birds, mammals and squamate reptiles: Larger species do in fact have a higher cancer prevalence compared to smaller species,' they concluded. But other scientists quickly questioned that blunt conclusion. Although the authors did find more cancer in bigger animals, it wasn't enough to disprove Peto's paradox. Most large-bodied animals still had far lower cancer rates than you'd expect. Elephants, for example, had 56 per cent less cancer than the researchers' model predicted. 'The real question is not just whether there is a positive relationship between size and cancer prevalence, but whether this relationship is as strong as expected given the increased number of cell divisions associated with larger body size,' says Dr Antonie Dujon, who's researching cancer and evolution at Deakin University. 'In other words, there may be a positive correlation between size and cancer risk, but if this correlation is weaker than statistically expected, it suggests that natural selection has nonetheless favoured superior anti-cancer defences in large-bodied species.' So, despite the headline, Peto's paradox held up. Scientists remain convinced something powerful is going on within the world's biggest creatures that stops cells going rogue. Here's one way scientists are trying to use that to our advantage. Harnessing elephant evolution to kill cancer Large animals may have evolved to suppress cancer through lower mutation rates, cancer-resistant tweaks in the architecture of their tissue, and immune systems better at surveilling for cancerous cells. One specific example comes from elephants. Circling back to Kean's book about evolution, she writes that humans have an inbuilt defence against tumours in the form of a gene called TP53. Loading The gene codes for a protein called P53 that triggers cancerous cells to 'self-destruct' and repairs damaged DNA. Humans have two copies of the gene in each cell. But elephants, the largest land animals, have 40 copies. The elephant versions are seemingly more powerful at suppressing cancer than the human version of the gene, too. Only 5 per cent of elephants die from cancer compared to a quarter of humans. Now several teams across the globe are scrutinising these elephant genes with a long-term view of harnessing them for targeted cancer therapies. It's very, very early days for this research, but scientists have used the genes to kill the cells of a cancerous bone tumour that affects children during growth spurts.
The Age
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Age
At 2m tall, I'm at greater risk of cancer. An elephant could fix that
Kean spoke to researchers scouring the genomes of large animals for clues as to why they're so good at suppressing cancer despite having trillions more cells than we do. Some of what they've found can make human cancer cells self-destruct. 1000 times better at cancer suppression Body size and cancer rates only correlate between members of the same species, not between different animals. For example, little dogs such as Pomeranians, shih tzus and chihuahuas have a 10 per cent chance of dying from cancer while the risk for larger breeds including mastiffs and Burmese mountain dogs is up around 40-50 per cent, a 2024 study reported. If this correlation between size and cancer risk applied across different species, mice would never die from cancer and elephants would barely make adulthood. By one estimate, half of all blue whales should get colon cancer by the time they're 50 and all whales should have it by the time they're 80. But that's not the case. Mice actually have a colon cancer risk comparable to humans, even though they're tiny. About 46 per cent of wild mice raised in a lab, in fact, die from some kind of cancer. Blue whales do get colon cancer but at nowhere near the rates you'd expect for their size. They live as long as we do. So what's going on? 'Peto's Paradox suggests that large, long-lived animals such as the blue whale have evolved mechanisms capable of suppressing cancer 1000 times better than humans,' write Professor Carlo Maley and Dr Aleah Caulin in Trends in Ecology & Evolution. If we could harness the cancer-suppression mechanisms of mega-animals, they argue, 'then we could potentially eradicate cancer as a public health threat in humans'. Peto's paradox disproved? Just as I got excited about the idea of using the cancer-suppressing superpowers of the world's largest creatures to treat human cancer, I came across a new paper that slapped me down. No evidence for Peto's paradox in terrestrial vertebrates, the headline read. The authors analysed a dataset of 16,000 necropsy records for 292 species of mammals, amphibians, birds and reptiles and found larger animals did get more cancer. 'We show that there is no evidence for Peto's paradox across amphibians, birds, mammals and squamate reptiles: Larger species do in fact have a higher cancer prevalence compared to smaller species,' they concluded. But other scientists quickly questioned that blunt conclusion. Although the authors did find more cancer in bigger animals, it wasn't enough to disprove Peto's paradox. Most large-bodied animals still had far lower cancer rates than you'd expect. Elephants, for example, had 56 per cent less cancer than the researchers' model predicted. 'The real question is not just whether there is a positive relationship between size and cancer prevalence, but whether this relationship is as strong as expected given the increased number of cell divisions associated with larger body size,' says Dr Antonie Dujon, who's researching cancer and evolution at Deakin University. 'In other words, there may be a positive correlation between size and cancer risk, but if this correlation is weaker than statistically expected, it suggests that natural selection has nonetheless favoured superior anti-cancer defences in large-bodied species.' So, despite the headline, Peto's paradox held up. Scientists remain convinced something powerful is going on within the world's biggest creatures that stops cells going rogue. Here's one way scientists are trying to use that to our advantage. Harnessing elephant evolution to kill cancer Large animals may have evolved to suppress cancer through lower mutation rates, cancer-resistant tweaks in the architecture of their tissue, and immune systems better at surveilling for cancerous cells. One specific example comes from elephants. Circling back to Kean's book about evolution, she writes that humans have an inbuilt defence against tumours in the form of a gene called TP53. Loading The gene codes for a protein called P53 that triggers cancerous cells to 'self-destruct' and repairs damaged DNA. Humans have two copies of the gene in each cell. But elephants, the largest land animals, have 40 copies. The elephant versions are seemingly more powerful at suppressing cancer than the human version of the gene, too. Only 5 per cent of elephants die from cancer compared to a quarter of humans. Now several teams across the globe are scrutinising these elephant genes with a long-term view of harnessing them for targeted cancer therapies. It's very, very early days for this research, but scientists have used the genes to kill the cells of a cancerous bone tumour that affects children during growth spurts.
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Daily Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
PKR reviewing complaints on party elections
Published on: Sunday, April 27, 2025 Published on: Sun, Apr 27, 2025 By: Sherell Jeffrey Text Size: Sabah PKR Election Committee Director Datuk Peto Galim Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is focusing on strengthening the party ahead of the state election, with its branch elections now completed statewide. Sabah PKR Election Committee Director Datuk Peto Galim said: 'Our target is to win as many seats as possible under PH, particularly under PKR. We will only contest in areas where we clearly have strength. That is our target and we will ensure all wings in these focus areas concentrate on the coming state election.' He said negotiations on seat distribution are nearly finalised, having been temporarily paused due to recent festivities and the party elections. 'The chairman recently issued a statement that we will resume these negotiations. 'I can say the negotiations are almost complete, so wait and see,' Peto said at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering hosted by Sepanggar Parliamentary Office in Kg Inanam Laut, Saturday. 'Our reference in these negotiations is simple. Where you are strong, you should contest there,' he said. Deputy Higher Education Minister cum Kota Belud PKR Division Chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud noted that the Central Election Department is currently reviewing complaints from candidates who were dissatisfied with the process. 'The Central Election Department has opened channels for any dissatisfied candidates to submit their complaints. Currently, these complaints are being examined thoroughly and decisions will be made soon,' said the Sepanggar Member of Parliament. He said only two branches will require re-elections due to technical issues, namely Silam and Semporna. 'For Silam, it only involves the branch chief position due to technical issues, while for Semporna, it involves branch committee positions, also due to technical problems,' Mustapha said, adding that many branches had filed complaints across Sabah. Meanwhile, Peto said the party election results were largely predictable. 'As a whole, the results did not change much from what was expected, though there were some changes in branch leadership in critical areas where grassroots members wanted clear change. 'Grassroots members are now very powerful. Leaders who they perceive as problematic will be replaced as they try new leaders. 'This is happening not just in Sabah but throughout Malaysia. It is a strange but real phenomenon. These changes are not limited to PKR but will spread to other parties. The time has come for people to choose leaders who truly want to save and serve the people,' he said. Asked about former Sabah PKR Chief Datuk Seri Christina Liew who lost her branch leadership position, Peto said being a branch chief does not necessarily guarantee a 100 per cent chance of becoming a candidate in the election. 'There are many factors our leadership considers. 'Regarding Christina, we will examine what role she can play in this larger group. She is a main fighter who has been a member from the beginning until now and has contributed tremendously to PKR in Sabah, to the Government and to PH. 'Our State Leadership Council (MPN) will find ways where she can play a role and bring positive impact to PKR's strength in Sabah,' he said. Regarding the State MPN structure, Peto did not anticipate major changes. 'I do not see huge changes in the MPN. I believe the chairman position will still be held by my colleague, Mustapha, and I might remain as deputy. We will fill other positions according to each leader's expertise. 'There have been defeats for the previous secretary and vice-MPN, but this is not a major problem because we have new leaders we can put forward,' he said. On potential political collaborations with Umno, Peto said no meetings had been held with Sabah Umno's Datuk Seri Bung Moktar. 'I have never been called or informed. As I said earlier, we welcome anyone who shares the same aspirations and dreams as us to bring Sabah out of its problems. 'I can say the current government, GRS plus PH, has the capability and is making serious efforts toward that, although there are things that need to be streamlined and taken more seriously,' he said. On the Pakatan Harapan leadership in Sabah, Peto said at this moment it might not be confirmed yet who is actually the Sabah PH chairperson. 'Perhaps in the near future, we will see. There might be an announcement soon,' he said. 'We need to clarify two things here. First, within PH itself, we have no divisions. We in Sabah PH are intact. We do not have differences in ideas. 'For the State, the collaboration between PH and GRS is currently going very well, as we expected. Although there are some constraints in terms of delivery systems, with results coming somewhat slowly. But that is our task,' he said. 'We need to ensure that leaders who will form the next Sabah Cabinet have strong unity, extraordinary determination and sharp, quick decision-making. 'We no longer want current issues in the State like the three-pronged issues (water, electricity and roads) that people talk about becoming nightmare issues for residents,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah PKR completes branch polls, shifts focus to state election
Published on: Saturday, April 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Apr 26, 2025 By: Sherell Jeffrey Text Size: Peto (fourth left) and Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (fourth right) at the event. - Pic by Sherell Jeffrey | Daily Express KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR has completed branch elections in 25 areas and is now focusing on strengthening the party ahead of the upcoming State Election. Sabah PKR Election Committee Director Datuk Peto Galim said the party aims to contest in its stronghold areas and maximise seat wins, with seat distribution talks among coalition partners nearly finalised. He noted that while most branch election outcomes were expected, some areas chose new leaders, and re-elections will be held for the Silam and Semporna branches due to technical issues. Peto said although former Sabah PKR chief Christina Liew lost her branch position, she may still play a key role depending on the party's assessment of her contributions. He added that Sabah PH remains united, collaboration with GRS is smooth, minimal changes are expected in the State Leadership Council (MPN), and alliances with like-minded parties are welcomed. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sabah PKR open to collaboration if visions align, says Peto
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is open to working with the existing government. Its deputy chairman Datuk Peto Galim said the party shared similar aspirations to move Sabah forward. "Our collaboration concept is very clear. We want leaders who can bring drastic changes to the problems faced by the people. "If our team shares the same vision, the likelihood of working together is higher," said Peto, who is also the Sabah PKR election director. He urged more efforts to be made towards rectifying infrastructure issues. Peto, who is also the Inanam assemblyman, was speaking to the media during a Raya celebration at the Tun Ahmad Shah Mosque here. Commenting on Sabah Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's statement about working with Sabah PH, Peto said there had been no meetings after Bung made the announcement about two weeks ago. On April 14, BN president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that meetings had been held between BN and PH, as well as with various political coalitions in Sabah. However, he also said an official announcement would only be made once all party leaders could reach a consensus. "To be clear, I was never called or informed about it. "The cooperation is their opinion and interest in working with us," Peto said. As for seat negotiations, he said discussions had been completed after being put on hold due to the party election and Raya celebration. "Our reference for the discussion is simple, wherever you are strong, you will contest there." In the 2020 state election, Sabah PKR won the Inanam and Api-Api seats. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew won the Api-Api seat.
