Wolves in the Chornobyl zone seem to have developed anti-cancer abilities

New research shows that the population of wolves living in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is genetically different from their counterparts outside the region. Notably, irradiated wolves seem to have developed protective mutations that increase their chances of surviving cancer.

Wolf populations, like other animals, have grown rapidly in the Chornobyl zone of Ukraine since the area was abandoned after the infamous nuclear disaster in 1986. In the absence of humans, wildlife thrives. However, to enjoy this freedom, the animals have to face the glaring problem of radiation. Ultimately, this is why people have left the area, Illscience writes.

To understand how these animals survive against all odds, Cara Love, an evolutionary biologist and ecotoxicologist at Princeton University, has been studying Chornobyl wolves for ten years.

In 2014, Love and her colleagues travelled to the Chornobyl zone and took blood samples from the wolves to understand their response to cancer-causing radiation. Some of the wolves were also fitted with radio collars to collect information about their location and radiation exposure.

"We're getting real-time measurements of where they are and how much radiation they're exposed to," Love said in a statement.

The study showed that wolves in the Chornobyl zone are exposed to more than 11.28 millirem of radiation every day throughout their lives, more than six times the permissible limit for humans.

The researchers also noted that the wolves have an altered immune system, similar to patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer. In addition, genetic analysis suggests that parts of the wolves' genome have developed some resistance to cancer.

Similar conclusions were made among hundreds of semi-wild dogs living in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. In 2023, scientists discovered that free-roaming dogs in Chornobyl are genetically different from domestic dogs living in other parts of the world.

Love's discovery may have implications for human health. She hopes to use her findings to identify protective mutations that increase people's chances of surviving cancer.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war with Russia have prevented Love and her colleagues from returning to the Chornobyl zone. It is unknown if and when they will be able to return.

"Our priority is to ensure maximum safety for the people and staff who are there," Love said.

The new study was presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Seattle, Washington, last month.