Fat cells in healthy breast tissue produce a molecule that destroys cancer cells, but in obesity this protective mechanism stops working, SciTechDaily reports, according to infohub.kz.
A research team from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has uncovered an unexpected role of fat cells, known as adipocytes. Previously, excess weight was thought only to create conditions for accelerated tumor growth. New experiments have revealed another side of the process: in obesity, the body loses its ability to suppress dangerous cells on its own.
Biologists studied donor tissue samples and preclinical models. They found that normal fat cells actively synthesize the fatty acid 9S-HODE. This substance triggers ferroptosis, a specific type of cell death linked to iron-dependent lipid oxidation. Through ferroptosis, tissues eliminate damaged and potentially cancerous structures in a timely manner. In obesity, adipocytes enlarge, and production of this protective acid drops sharply.
In experiments on mice, the scientists artificially raised 9S-HODE levels in the adipose tissue of obese animals. As a result, breast tumor growth slowed significantly. The authors hope that drugs based on the discovered compound could restore the body's natural antitumor defense, but clinical trials are needed before the method can be used in humans.