Recent data show that elephants have billions more cells than humans while less than 5% of these giant animals die of cancer, compared to 25% of humans. Elephants have dozens of copies of the p53 gene compared to two copies in the human genome (thttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.042)
How to use this knowledge in the fight against cancer?
Actually, the quoted article refers to multiple copies of a LIF6 pseudogene regulated by p53 in response to DNA damage, and its ability to induce apoptosis. The idea that these data may translate into cancer management is plausible, but highly speculative at this point. I guess several labs may have already started playing with either manipulating the expression of or editing the LIF6 gene in tumor cell lines, transgenic mice, etc. It may work. Or not.
p53 gene is considered a major tumor suppressor, and mutations that affect its function and/or expression are correlated with tumorigenesis. That would suggest that by having multiple copies of the gene (or any other genes involved in tumorigenesis), one would expect that the functional copies will compensate a mutant copy. I agree with Rafael that it is a good idea, but a long way from clinical applications.
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