Mice Without D-AA Enzyme: A New Link to Lymphoma?

Scientists have been puzzled by the relationship between certain enzymes and cancer. They decided to study mice missing these enzymes to find out more. Over a long period, they noticed that female mice without the DASPO enzyme lived shorter lives. These mice also had strange growths in their liver, spleen, and small intestine. Doctors found out it was a type of cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). When they looked at the liver cells under a microscope, they found 71 genes behaving differently.Some of these genes are already known to be linked to DLBCL. In humans, people with this cancer who have low DASPO levels don't live as long. But the exact role of DASPO in this cancer is still a mystery. Future research needs to focus on immune cells called B cells. DASPO might be a new way to spot and treat cancer.