Posted on 11/10/2021 9:43:43 AM PST by Red Badger
The study, published in the journal Nature and part-funded by the UK charity Worldwide Cancer Research, uncovers how palmitic acid alters the cancer genome, increasing the likelihood the cancer will spread. The researchers have started developing therapies that interrupt this process and say a clinical trial could start in the next couple of years.
Metastasis – or the spread – of cancer remains the main cause of death in cancer patients and the vast majority of people with metastatic cancer can only be treated, but not cured. Fatty acids are the building blocks of fat in our body and the food we eat. Metastasis is promoted by fatty acids in our diet, but it has been unclear how this works and whether all fatty acids contribute to metastasis.
Newly published findings, led by researchers at IRB Barcelona, Spain, reveal that one such fatty acid commonly found in palm oil, called palmitic acid, promotes metastasis in oral carcinomas and melanoma skin cancer in mice. Other fatty acids called oleic acid and linoleic acid – omega-9 and omega-6 fats found in foods such as olive oil and flaxseeds – did not show the same effect. Neither of the fatty acids tested increased the risk of developing cancer in the first place.
The research found that when palmitic acid was supplemented into the diet of mice, it not only contributed to metastasis, but also exerts long-term effects on the genome. Cancer cells that had only been exposed to palmitic acid in the diet for a short period of time remained highly metastatic even when the palmitic acid had been removed from the diet.
The researchers discovered that this “memory” is caused by epigenetic changes – changes to how our genes function. The epigenetic changes alter the function of metastatic cancer cells and allow them to form a neural network around the tumor to communicate with cells in their immediate environment and to spread more easily. By understanding the nature of this communication, the researchers uncovered a way to block it and are now in the process of planning a clinical trial to stop metastasis in different types of cancer.
The drugs that are in development for the clinical trial are antibodies being developed by ONA Therapeutics, a start-up co-founded by senior author of the study Professor Salvador Aznar-Benitah, ICREA researcher and head of the Stem Cells and Cancer lab at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona). The company recently secured 30million Euro from private investors to develop this first-in-class treatment of metastatic cancer. The researchers hope the trial is on track to start in the next couple of years to test their new antibody in several different types of cancer.
Professor Salvador Aznar-Benitah, Senior Group Leader at IRB Barcelona and ICREA research professor, and senior author of the paper, said: “I think it is too early to determine which type of diet could be consumed by patients with metastatic cancer that would slow down the metastatic process. That said, based on our results one would think that a diet poor in palmitic acid could be effective in slowing down the metastatic process, but much more work is needed to determine this.
“We are not concentrating on this direction of research; instead, we are focusing on new potential therapeutic targets that we could inhibit and that could have a real therapeutic benefit for the patient irrespective of their diet.
“If things keep on going as planned, we could start the first clinical trial in a couple of years. I am very excited about this and we are investing a lot of effort to generate the best possible therapy that cancer patients will hopefully be able to benefit from in the nearby future.”
Dr. Helen Rippon, Chief Executive at Worldwide Cancer Research said: “This discovery is a huge breakthrough in our understanding of how diet and cancer are linked and, perhaps more importantly, how we can use this knowledge to start new cures for cancer.
“Metastasis is estimated to be responsible for 90% of all cancer deaths – that’s around 9 million deaths per year globally. Learning more about what makes cancer spread and – importantly – how to stop it is the way forward to reduce these numbers.
“Discovery research like this is incredibly exciting because it marks the beginning of a journey that will ultimately lead to more lives saved and more time spent with loved ones. We are all very excited to see the results from this clinical trial and the future impact these findings might have on people with metastatic cancer.”
Reference: “Dietary palmitic acid promotes a prometastatic epigenetic memory related to tumour-associated Schwann cell activation” 10 November 2021, Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04075-0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmitic_acid
Palmitic acid, or hexadecanoic acid in IUPAC nomenclature, is the most common saturated fatty acid found in animals, plants and microorganisms.[9][10] Its chemical formula is CH3(CH2)14COOH, and its C:D (the total number of carbon atoms to the number of carbon-carbon double-bonds) is 16:0. It is a major component of the oil from the fruit of oil palms (palm oil), making up to 44% of total fats. Meats, cheeses, butter, and other dairy products also contain palmitic acid, amounting to 50–60% of total fats.[11] Palmitates are the salts and esters of palmitic acid. The palmitate anion is the observed form of palmitic acid at physiologic pH (7.4).
They are still pushing the “fat will kill you” lie. Load up on those carbohydrates, folks! Just like the government wants you to.
Well, the government should immediately mandate that everyone start talking these things that in development. I mean ... if it saves one life ...
I think it is also saturated fats that transport something to,the brain that gets deposited as the plaque that is causing a,zheimers too if I recall correctly?
IOW, everything I actually “like” to eat...
It is not WHAT you eat, it is HOW MUCH you eat.
Carbs can make you fat faster than fats.
They feed pigs and cows CARBOHYDRATES to fatten them up, not meat.
IMHO obesity is highly carcinogenic. I see prostate cancer patients in the cancer clinic, and all most all look overweight.
So do not eat more than what your body can burn up.
I wonder how much of the palmitic acid in dairy and meat has to do with the cows and cattle being fed palm oil in varying amounts.
There was an article about The Canadian Butter Scandal, where butter at room temperature was not soft. Turns out the farmers had increased the amount of the cheaper palm oil in the animals feed. Because of Covid:)
I don’t eat much. Essentially the equivalent of two small to medium meals a day that is it. But my food choices arent always the healthiest. I dont lose weight and in fact the last 6 months have gained 6 pounds. If I chose salads only I have a feeling I’d weight less.
You most likely are not getting enough exercise.
Main benefit of exercise is NOT burning calories.
That is a general misconception.
What regular exercise does is increase your metabolism.
You will have more spring in your steps, and burn more calories. Higher metabolism will burn more calories.
Youre probably right. Its much easier to sit around surfing the net. 😑 Working behind a desk doesnt help either.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.