Why Does the Heart Rarely Get Cancer? — Mechanical Load Suppresses Tumour Growth via Nesprin-2 | Science April 2026
Science April 23, 2026 (Ciucci et al.) finally answered why the heart almost never develops cancer. Three experimental systems — genetic mouse model + heterotopic heart transplantation unloading + engineered heart tissues — established that mechanical load directly suppresses cancer cell proliferation. Mechanism: Nesprin-2 → histone methylation (H3K9me3) → chromatin compaction → reduced proliferation. Opens a new therapeutic axis: mechanical-stimulation therapy.
