Scientists revealed the possible main cause of death from cancer

Scientists from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have concluded that the cause of death from cancer may not be metastasis, but the growth of tumors into large blood vessels. The study is published in the journal Nature Medicine.

The authors analyzed medical data from more than 100 patients with solid tumors who died in Dallas clinics, and also monitored the condition of 31 severely ill people in hospice.

The results showed that in most study participants, tumors affected vessels such as the inferior vena cava, portal vein, hepatic veins, and abdominal aorta. In the last weeks of life, a sharp increase in the number of circulating tumor cells was recorded in the blood of these patients.

The improved autopsy methodology used by the scientists allowed for preserving the integrity of blood vessels and identifying areas of damage. It was established that tumors can cause the formation of blood clots that disrupt blood flow and lead to the failure of vital organs.

The researchers obtained additional data by analyzing the results of computed tomography of more than 1,200 cancer patients from Germany. A significant proportion of them also showed signs of vascular infiltration. This discovery calls into question the conventional understanding of the mechanisms of death in cancer and may influence treatment approaches.

The authors emphasize that during therapy, special attention should be paid to tumors located near large vessels: surgical intervention or radiation therapy in these cases can reduce the risk of complications and increase the chances of survival.