Extreme Rarity of Cancer in the Cow's Udder: A Negative Finding of Vital Interest to the Dairy Industry and to the Consumer

Swett, W. W.; Matthews, C.A.; Graves, R. R.

doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(40)95544-8

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…A distinct set of metabolites from various sources is one of the reasons behind the susceptibility and resistance to cancer types that may explain the basis of intra-, inter-, and xeno-tumor heterogeneity [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Interestingly, compared to humans, cows and other ruminants show a rare occurrence of mammary cancer [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Free Fatty Acids from Cow Urine DMSO Fraction Induce Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells without Affecting Normal GMSCs

et al. 2023

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Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the biological relevance of free fatty acids derived from cow urine DMSO fraction (CUDF) by employing in vitro and in silico approaches. Background: Metabolic heterogeneity at the intra- and intercellular levels contributes to the metabolic plasticity of cancer cells during drug-induced response. Free fatty acid (FFA) availability at intra- and intercellular levels is related to tumor heterogeneity at interpatient and xeno-heterogeneity levels. Methods: We collected fresh urine from healthy cows and subjected it to fractionation in DMSO using drying, vortexing, and centrifugation. Finally, the sterile filtrate of cow urine DMSO fraction (CUDF) was evaluated for antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects in MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells using routine cell-based assays. Intracellular metabolites were studied with the help of a novel in-house vertical tube gel electrophoresis (VTGE) method to reveal the nature of CUDF components in MCF-7 cells. Identified intracellular FFAs were studied for their molecular interactions with targeted receptor histone deacetylase (HDAC) using molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Results: CUDF showed a significant reduction in cell viability and cell death in MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells. Interestingly, FFAs tetracosanedioic acid, 13Z-docosenoic acid (erucic acid), nervonic acid, 3-hydroxy-tetradecanoic acid, and 3-hydroxcapric acid were found inside the treated MCF-7 cancer cells. These FFAs, including tetracosanedioic acid, indicated a specific affinity to HDAC at their inhibitory sites, similar to trichostatin A, a known inhibitor. Conclusions: This study reports on FFAs derived from CUDF as potential antiproliferative and pro-cell death agents against breast cancer cells. MD simulations hinted at tetracosanedioic acid and other FFAs as inhibitors of HDAC that could explain the observed effects of FFAs in cancer cells.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Free Fatty Acids from Cow Urine DMSO Fraction Induce Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells without Affecting Normal GMSCs

et al. 2023

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“…No sign of mammary cancer was found in the udders of 313 cows of 'lactating age', nor of 105 heifers and freemartins, after extensive examination of thick and thin sections. Swett et al (1940) realised that cows are usually culled from a herd before old age but, by relating cow age to human age in terms of longevity and age at puberty, produced a table showing the equivalent human age of the cows they had studied. By that reckoning nearly 40% of the cows had reached an equivalent human age of 40.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…However, that may not be the entire story since there is historical evidence that the mammary glands of dairy cows have an even lower incidence of cancer than the organs and tissues of the rest of the body. Swett et al (1940) wrote: 'Feldman in reporting on nearly 13 million bovines slaughtered subject to meat inspection by the Bureau of Animal Industry in 1930, showed that approximately 1300 cases of tumorous growths were found but did not indicate that any occurred in the mammary glands. In fact Creech who reviewed the laboratory findings recorded in a large number of bovine tumors observed in connection with meat inspection activities involving the slaughter of many millions of cattle, over a period of years, has concluded that cancerous growths in the bovine mammary gland are very rare, and that those that have been found apparently originated from carcinoma of the skin and invaded the udder from that source.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Dairy animals and breast cancer: reflections on a long-term study from the 1970s that was never done

Peaker

2023

Journal of Dairy Research

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In this short commentary I recall a long-term experiment that was sketched out to determine if the low incidence of mammary cancer in dairy animals reflects a low incidence in these species generally or is the result of a protective effect of early pregnancy and long lactations. Although that experiment was never done, I discuss these questions in the light of developing knowledge on the incidence of cancer in ruminants generally and in the mammary gland in particular.

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“…Of nineteen pairs of twins in the beef breeds three were unilateral. Early recognition of the free-martin condition in heifers twin born with bulls is described by Swett, Matthews & Graves (66). The characters which are considered useful in making the diagnosis are a retarded or a typical development of the udder and an enlarged clitoris or a 'rudimentary penis' taking the form of a skin fold extending part or all the way from the navel to a point above the rear attachment of the udder.…”

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confidence: 99%

Section A. Physiology of dairy cattle: I. Reproduction and lactation

1945

Journal of Dairy Research

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Some years ago the annual wastage of cows in dairy herds in Britain was estimated by Wright(1) to be approximately 22%, and of this about one-quarter was due to sterility. Recent figures(2) from Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire suggest that this position has not changed in the past few years. Thus in forty-eight herds containing 1925 cows there were 620 disposals in the 12 months ending September 1940. 23% of the disposals were due to sterility. The annual losses from bovine sterility in Britain have been calculated to be equivalent to £7,000,000 in milk alone. This fact is cited by Day(3) in a concise article on the control of sterility in which he discusses various factors which contribute to the problem. Some of these factors, such as contagious abortion and trichomonas infection, are pathological, but many others are functional or physiological. The present review is concerned only with the latter. Mackintosh (4), in an article on breeding and rearing to maintain the milk supply, summarizes for the practical dairy farmer many of the methods by which the incidence of functional sterility can be reduced. Both Day and Mackintosh emphasize the importance of pregnancy diagnosis, of detecting the short winter oestrus and of testing the fertility of the bull. They also mention that hormone therapy can frequently be used to great advantage for inducing oestrus. Knowledge of these factors and how best to deal with them has greatly increased during the past few years as a result of the work carried out in many research stations throughout the world.

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Extreme Rarity of Cancer in the Cow's Udder: A Negative Finding of Vital Interest to the Dairy Industry and to the Consumer

Cited by 12 publications

References 4 publications

Free Fatty Acids from Cow Urine DMSO Fraction Induce Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells without Affecting Normal GMSCs

Free Fatty Acids from Cow Urine DMSO Fraction Induce Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells without Affecting Normal GMSCs

Dairy animals and breast cancer: reflections on a long-term study from the 1970s that was never done

Section A. Physiology of dairy cattle: I. Reproduction and lactation

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