A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that excessive consumption of fatty foods may worsen breast cancer, shedding light on the potential impact of diet on cancer progression.
Led by doctors and scientists from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, Chinese researchers cautioned that obesity could potentially hasten tumor growth and decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy, resulting in a poorer prognosis for breast cancer patients.
The study highlighted that a high-fat diet poses a significant risk factor for the malignant advancement of cancers by disrupting the intestinal microbiota. Researchers emphasized that gut microbiota associated with obesity could correlate with adverse clinical outcomes and advanced disease status in female breast cancer patients.
Drawing from a comprehensive analysis of clinical data, genetic sequencing of gut microbiota, and mouse models, the findings underscored the detrimental effects of gut microbiota influenced by a high-fat diet. Specifically, the study revealed that such microbiota led to an overproduction of leucine, an amino acid, which in turn accelerated tumor progression and exacerbated outcomes for breast cancer and melanoma.
However, amidst these concerning findings, the study also identified a potential avenue for anticancer therapeutic strategies. Researchers pointed to a “gut–bone marrow–tumor axis” that could offer promising targets for future interventions aimed at combatting cancer.
This study adds to existing research linking excess weight to cancer risk. The University of Texas has previously highlighted obesity as a significant risk factor for cancer, while the Irish Cancer Society emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy weight to reduce cancer risk.
According to data from the World Health Organization, the global prevalence of obesity has doubled since 1990, with nearly 900 million individuals classified as obese. Additionally, an estimated 2.5 billion adults worldwide are overweight, underscoring the urgent need for public health interventions to address the growing obesity epidemic and its associated health risks, including cancer.