Despite extensive research and drug development, which has cost the National Cancer Institute around 90 billion dollars since 1971, cancer is still a major health issue.
According to a new study that included evolutionary biologists at Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel in Germany and the Catholic University of Croatia, it might actually be impossible to cure cancer for good.
There are a variety of preventative, diagnostic and treatments methods that have different levels of success.
But experts working on the study say that because the disease originated so long ago, tumor growth is a part of human cellular development, and therefore it could very well be here to stay.
While studying hydra, which are simple coral-like freshwater animals that have been around for hundreds of millions of years, researchers found tumors similar to the ones that grow on humans.
Professor Thomas Bosch, from Kiel University who lead the research team, is quoted as saying: “Cancer is as old as multi-cellular life on earth and will probably never be completely eradicated. The invasive characteristic of cancer cells is also an evolutionary old feature.”
Even though medical research is ongoing, cancer reportedly kills half of the people that are affected by the disease.
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