Is the hard skin on your feet a sign of CANCER? Scientists discover a link between callouses and tumours An inherited form of oesophageal cancer causes thickening of palms and soles Some cases are so severe that patients have to shave off piles of skin with a razor The gene behind the disease, iRHOM2, controls levels of keratin in the skin It is often considered a rather pointless - and unsightly - consequence of mobility. But, according to new research, the hardened skin on the soles of our feet could be a tell-tale sign of a something far more sinister. Scientists now believe they've discovered a link between foot callouses and cancer of the gullet. The hardened skin on the soles of our feet could be a tell-tale sign of cancer, according to new research by British scientists Academics from Queen Mary University of London found that an inherited form of oesophageal cancer, called Tylosis, causes thickening of the palms and soles. Some cases are so severe that patients have to shave off piles of hard skin with a razor. The gene behind the disease, iRHOM2, was found to play an important role in the thickness of the skin of the palms and soles by controlling keratin, the most abundant component of the skin. The researchers found that mice with iRHOM2 genes that were knocked out had abnormally thin paw skin. While humans with increased iRHOM2 had thickened palms and soles with callouses, and intriguingly these patients also develop oesophageal cancer. The research, published in Nature Communications, could lead to a new target in the treatment of oesophageal cancer and insights into skin conditions such as psoriasis and skin cancer. An inherited form of oesophageal cancer, called Tylosis, causes thickening of the palms and soles, experts claim (stock) It also at last explains why the skin on our palms and soles is much thicker than the skin on other parts of our bodies and so uniquely adapted to withstand high pressure and physical stress. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Oesophageal cancer doesn't usually cause any symptoms in the early stages when the tumour is small. It's only when it gets bigger that tell-tale signs develop. Typical symptoms include: - difficulty swallowing - persistent indigestion or heartburn - bringing up food soon after eating - loss of appetite and weight loss - pain or discomfort in your upper tummy, chest or back This comes after scientists claimed a simple breath test could soon be used to detect stomach and oesophageal tumours. The test has proved successful in detecting stomach and esophageal cancers in 300 trial patients - with 85 per cent accuracy, according to researchers from Imperial College London. Both cancers tend to be diagnosed too late - at which point the chance of surviving five years is slim. While experts warned last June that drinking very hot beverages 'probably' causes cancer of the oesophagus. Gulping down anything very hot - over 65°C (150F) - including water, coffee, tea and other beverages - is linked to the disease, according The World Health Organisation's cancer agency. The theory is that cancer can be initiated by constant irritation of the lining of the mouth and throat by very hot water. Source
