The Link Between Laron's and Cancer

           While most of the things you hear related to cancer are in a negative light, such as alcohol and smoking, Laron's disease has a positive connection to cancer. People who have Laron's disease are immune to cancer and diabetes. Laron's disease is cause by a mutation in the growth hormone receptor (GHR) which leads to the production of insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1). People who have mutations in both GHR genes tend to have Laron's disease and in result have little production of IGF1.
Now that scientists know that small amounts of IGF1 can lead to immunity of cancer and diabetes, the question may be posed, why don't we all have IGF1 taken out of us? Well the fact is that successful tests have been conducted on animals, but there are too many risks involved for testing to be conducted on humans. After reading this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41632071/ns/health-aging/, I had conflicted feelings about the new discovery about the link between Laron's and cancer. My initial thoughts while reader were, if we know how to be immune to two diseases that are killing millions of people each year then why don't we just do it already. But then I realized that surely immunity of cancer and diabetes couldn't come that easily and without other risks. 
           One particular line stuck out to me in this article, "Everything is inter-related in our bodies. In general, I panic when people jump to conclusions too fast"-Felipe Sierra. I agree strongly with this statement, and I feel that it's a shame that we now have the resources to become immune to cancer, and yet we have to wait yet again for more research to be conducted before we can actually implement the findings in humans. It's almost like scientists are teasing us by releasing this information to the public, but I also think that this study gives us hope for the future. If we now have a link between Laron's and immunity to cancer and diabetes, further research and tests can be done until scientists are confident enough that we can use this information to make humans immune to cancer without overwhelming risks. I left reading this article with a positive view on the future for cancer, and believe that with our ever-progressing technology, scientists will be able to uncover more links between gene mutations and cancer, and eventually be able to cure this horrible disease.


Sources: 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1045987/Immune-cancer-The-astonishing-dwarf-community-Ecuador-hold-key-cure.html


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41632071/ns/health-aging/