New findings link obesity to loss of natural breast cancer protection
A research team at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) has found that obesity prevents a biological process that kills cancerous cells, revealing a possible reason obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer.
Scientists at Huntsman Cancer Institute have discovered that obesity may be linked to a loss of natural breast cancer protection. This protection comes from a molecule called 9S-HODE, which is more abundant in lean adipocytes (fat cells) than in obese ones. In lean adipocytes, 9S-HODE promotes a type of cell death called ferroptosis, which helps purge cancerous cells.
Obese adipocytes produce less 9S-HODE, allowing cancerous cells to grow more freely. Restoring 9S-HODE levels in obese individuals could potentially help slow breast cancer growth, offering a new therapeutic approach.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
