Spanish scientists have reported the only known case worldwide of a 36-year-old woman who has survived 12 different tumors, at least five of which were aggressive cancers. The first tumor appeared when the patient was still a baby, and other tumors followed every few years.
Before she even turned 40, the patient had developed a total of 12 tumors, at least five of which were malignant and aggressive. Each tumor was of a different type and appeared in a different part of her body. However, in every case, her immune system mounted a strong natural anti-inflammatory response, successfully fighting off the cancers.
Researchers at Spain’s National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), led by Dr. Marcos Maloubres, who published their findings in the scientific journal «Science Advances,» reported that this unusual case may open new avenues for early diagnosis and more effective immunotherapy for cancer. According to the scientists, the patient’s unprecedented long-term immune response appears to be linked to mutations she inherited from both parents in a gene (MAD1L1), which plays an essential role in the process of cell division and proliferation.
«We still don’t understand how this individual developed during the embryonic stage, nor how he was able to overcome all of his pathological problems,» said Maloubres, noting that no similar case has been reported internationally to date.
«Scientifically, we cannot speak of a new syndrome, because this is the description of a single case, but biologically, that is what it is,» said researcher Miguel Urioz.
