From BBC News:
One of the key elements in determining if a human cell turns cancerous is a so-called “checkpoint” protein. This prevents cancer in people by stopping damaged cells from dividing. Now scientists in California have found that when they removed this same protein from the tiny worm C. elegans, the worms lived up to 30% longer than normal. The scientists deduced that a lack of this protein might mean that humans also live longer, but with an increased risk of getting cancer. The researchers think the protein’s dual function raises another important question: does the presence of this protein ensure a short but cancer-free existence for some people? The scientists involved in this study say there are likely to be other proteins that impact both cancer and ageing, and the focus of research is now to catalogue the genes that make these proteins and find out which ones are the best candidates for drug therapies.
More here.