News Analysis #1 Aline Figueroa

Scientists were doing research about stem cells relating to cancer and the correlation between
both. In the article Random mutations play large role in cancer, study finds, scientists conclude that
about two-thirds of the mutations in cancer cells are because of random mistakes made as stem cells
divide. These researchers are challenging that common idea that cancer is because of heredity and the
environment. They studied the correlation between the number of normal stem cell divisions and the risk
of 17 cancer types in 69 countries throughout the world. Their analysis determined that the connection is
strong between cancer incidence and normal stem cell divisions is all countries, regardless of their
environment (Tomasetti 2017, 1330). These studies made them conclude that the randomized errors that
happen during the replication process in stem cells and considered bad luck and is a major cause for
cancer more than the environmental or hereditary factors.
Within the article, Vogelstein and Cristian Tomasetti proposed that random mutations are the
reason some organs are more prone to cancer than others (Tomasetti). In the source, they conclude that
the stem cell divisions are major factors in cancer development. The abstract explains that through the
studies that they performed, more of the causes for cancer are more involved with the luck of the cells
duplicating then the other factors. The information is important for developing ways to battle the rates of
mortality because of cancer. The original article even gives an example of cell division in the colon that
leads to brain tumors to put this all into perspective. It clarifies that breast and prostate cancers werent
included in the study and could change the data slightly.
This information about stem cells and the correlation with cancer could help in developing new
ways to fight terminal cancer and where to target preventative treatment to help the cure of cancer.
Knowing where most of cancer comes from can aid in the producing of new technologies in research. As
new research comes out, more health care providers could take into mind what is the cause of cancer such
as bad luck or the other external factors commonly associated with the trigger of cancer.
Most of the quotes in the article were from people from Universities across the country and there
was no mention with a for-profit corporation. Unfortunately, with the experience that Ive had with health
care, I think that if it was mentioned that the basis was for a profit, I would be skeptical of the results of
the study. I would think that they would be trying to sell me something and didnt have my health care
first in their mind and instead wanted to make money from the pain and situation. Within the article, there
was scientists that disagreed with the results of the study referring to the bad luck part of the
conclusion. The study did only initially include cancers in the United States and excluded prostate and
breast cancer. However, after the new study from data from around the world, the started a solid point
from where some different cancers can be avoided by avoiding the carcinogen such as smoking with lung
cancer. Similarly, theres a similar article about stem cells accelerating the spread of cancer and that stem
cells can carry dormant infected cells that can be triggered with any external factor (Huang 2015).
Before finding this article, I didnt really know much about the spread of cancer or really the
many causes or triggers of it. This opened my eyes to the vast amount of complications involved with
the study of curing cancer. It brought new ideas to my interest that could help in aiding the development
of a cure. I recently had a dear family member pass away from cancer and after that, Ive been aware of
the reality that is cancer and how abrupt and quickly it can spread. After seeing the article, my interest
was piqued that there could be a breakthrough in forwarding the research about cancer.
While reading the article, I didnt have much knowledge about cancer including research, causes,
or new information about it recently. I think the author did a good job in giving sufficient background
about cancer to be able to understand what the study did and what it accomplished.
News Analysis #1 Aline Figueroa

References
C. Tomasetti and B. Vogelstein. Variation in cancer risk among tissues can be explained by the number of
stem cell divisions. Vol. 347, January 2, 2015, p. 78. doi: 10.1126/science.1260825.
C. Tomasetti, L. Li and B. Vogelstein. Stem cell divisions, somatic mutations, cancer etiology, and cancer
prevention. Science. Vol. 355, March 24, 2017, p. 1330. doi: 10.1126/science.aaf9011.
Texas A&M University. "Can stem cells cause and cure cancer?." ScienceDaily.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150812151249.htm (accessed March 29, 2017).
Saey, Tine Hesman. Random mutations play large role in cancer, study finds. Science News.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/random-mutations-play-large-role-cancer-study-finds (accessed
March 29, 2017).