On the need for integrating cancer into the One Health perspective

Abstract

Summary Recent pandemics have highlighted the urgency to connect disciplines studying animal, human, and environment health, that is, the “One Health” concept. The One Health approach takes a holistic view of health, but it has largely focused on zoonotic diseases while not addressing oncogenic processes. We argue that cancers should be an additional key focus in the One Health approach based on three factors that add to the well‐documented impact of humans on the natural environment and its implications on cancer emergence. First, human activities are oncogenic to other animals, exacerbating the dynamics of oncogenesis, causing immunosuppressive disorders in wildlife with effects on host–pathogen interactions, and eventually facilitating pathogen spillovers. Second, the emergence of transmissible cancers in animal species (including humans) has the potential to accelerate biodiversity loss across ecosystems and to become pandemic. It is crucial to understand why, how, and when transmissible cancers emerge and spread. Third, translating knowledge of tumor suppressor mechanisms found across the Animal Kingdom to human health offers novel insights into cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

A review of the methods used to induce cancer in invertebrates to study its effects on the evolution of species and ecosystem functioning

“…Transmissible cancers in marine bivalves have the potential to be dispersed by oceanic currents and human activities since their host species are also often invasive species (Caza et al, 2020; Yonemitsu et al, 2019). This situation is likely to worsen due to climate change (Bramwell et al, 2021) and by environmental degradation facilitating the emergence of cancer in wildlife populations (Dujon, Brown, et al, 2021; Dujon, Ujvari, & Thomas, 2021). Only a handful of studies have so far investigated the effect of environmental parameters on the survival of transmissible cancer cells in the soft‐shell clam Mya arenaria or the blue mussel Mytilus edulis (Burioli et al, 2019; Giersch et al, 2022; Sunila & Farley, 1989).…”

Of Elephants and Other Mammals: A Comparative Review of Reproductive Tumors and Potential Impact on Conservation

“…Reviewing comparative reproductive oncology offers a means to study risk factors [ 23 ] as well as identify potential treatments for neoplasia across multiple species [ 24 ]. Learning more about risk factors of reproductive tumors and how to lower the probability of developing these tumors is especially important in endangered species where reproduction remains key to breeding programs and conservation.…”

“…Importantly, even if a reproductive tumor is diagnosed early and the animal survives, that animal’s reproductive potential may still be compromised. In addition to animal health, comparative reproductive oncology may also advance human health, and in fact, both comparative oncology and reproductive disorders are part of the One Health approach [ 24 , 25 ]. As environmental changes, habitat loss, and poaching continue to threaten all animal species, large and long-lived species, such as elephants, are disproportionately vulnerable, and the interconnectedness of animal health, planetary health, and fertility becomes more apparent [ 26 ].…”

Transmissible Cancer Evolution: The Under-Estimated Role of Environmental Factors in the “Perfect Storm” Theory

“…Because ecological consequences of transmissible cancers can be dramatic (e.g., [17][18][19]), transmissible cell lines are increasingly considered to be of potential ecological concern. As with other infectious diseases, human activities may disperse these pathogens across the globe, thus reaching pandemic proportions [20][21][22]. However, despite recent advancements in our understanding of the biology of transmissible cancers (see [23] for a recent synthesis), the exact mechanisms of their emergence and evolution remain elusive.…”

“…In conclusion, it seems clear that if the acquisition of a transmissible phenotype by cancer cells is a major limitation for the emergence of transmissible cancers, but environmental variables are also likely to be subsequently a major barrier for the spread of those cells in host populations (Figure 1). From an applied ecological perspective, it also means that we should consider more carefully how anthropic activities are likely to promote the spread of transmissible cancers (see also [20]). When top order predators are removed from ecosystems through human intervention, the survival of weak and sick individuals, that would otherwise be rapidly eliminated, is favored [38].…”