Loneliness 'can cause cancer'

Published on Tuesday 29 September 2009 22:23

LONELINESS and stress may hasten the progress of breast cancer, a study suggests.

Scientists in the US who isolated cancer-prone mice found they developed larger tumours than animals with companions.

The socially deprived mice experienced gene-activity changes in their mammary glands that were associated with cancer growth.

It is likely the findings have implications for human health – and not solely with regard to breast cancer, the researchers believe.

"This is a novel finding and may begin to explain how the environment affects human susceptibility to other chronic diseases such as central obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure]," said study leader Dr Suzanne Conzen, from the University of Chicago.

The results suggest new targets for treatments that might reverse the effects.

Previous data from clinical trials have indicated that social support can improve the prospects of women with breast cancer.

Epidemiological studies suggest that social isolation increases death rates associated with several chronic diseases.

Dr Conzen's team took mice that were genetically predisposed to develop breast cancer and raised them in two different environments.

Mice from one group were kept on their own from the time they were first separated from their mothers. Those in the other group were allowed to mingle with other animals.

After the same amount of time, the isolated mice grew significantly larger mammary gland tumours.

They also showed signs of heightened stress, marked by raised levels of the stress hormone corticosterone.