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Study cancer cells need fat to spread
For a long time, medics have been looking for ways and means to stem the spread of cancer cells in our bodies. Researchers have now discovered that cancer cells need fat to travel through our bodies. The cells use the fat as a kind of transporter to spread in humans. Researchers are now trying to neutralize this ability, so could then stop the spread of harmful cells.
Researchers at The Flanders Institute for Biotechnology found in an investigation that cancer cells need fat to travel through our bodies and spread. Experts are now working on ways to eliminate this ability of cancer cells. The results of the investigations were published in the journal "Nature".
Experts are discovering the importance of fat in the spread of cancer cells in the human body. (Image: crevis / fotolia.com) Cancer cells use fat as a way to spread
At the present time, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used to treat many cancers. The majority of cancer deaths occur when the cancer spreads throughout the human body. To spread, the cells use fat as a kind of existing path or they use the fat to create new ways, the authors explain.
Cancer cells grow lymphatic vessels with the help of fat
The scientists from the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology made a breakthrough in cancer research. The physicians were able to determine that cancer cells have an increased need for fat, in order to grow from it so-called pathways (lymphatic vessels), which allow the disease to spread.
The role of lymphatic vessels in the spread of cancer
Lymphatic vessels are a special kind of vessels. They transport fluid instead of blood. The contained fluid plays a primary role in the spread of cancer, the experts explain. Until now, the formation of new lymphatic vessels (also known as lymphangiogenesis) was a poorly researched procedure. As a result, clinically approved drugs that can prevent growth are missing.
Lymphatics use more fat
Professor Peter Carmeliet and his colleagues studied the metabolism of nutrients through the lymphatic vessels in their study. The investigation began with the simple observation that lymph vessels use more fat or fatty acids compared to blood vessels.
Medication should prevent the fat utilization of the lymphatic vessels
Through the use of drugs to prevent the fat utilization of the lymphatic vessels, the so-called lymphatic growth can be prevented. This finding could in the future cause the inhibition of metastasis, say the doctors. In order to even understand why the cells are so dependent on fat, the researchers studied the development of lymphatic vessels.
The effect of fat administration of lymphatic vessels
Lymphatic vessels develop during embryonic development from normal blood vessels. This conversion is due to an increase in fat usage. The fat is used to create certain molecules, scientists say. These can then regulate the expression of the genetic code. The epigenetic changes ensure the function of the lymphatic vessels. The genetic code (DNA) is not changed by the fat, but the use of the code, which defines the lymphatic gene signature, add the experts.
The growth of the lymphatic vessels must be controlled
Our study shows that the use of fat by lymphatic vessels is programmed to develop and is required for its growth and function, explain the researchers. By improving or preventing the use of fat (or fat by-products), we can control the growth of the lymphatic vessels. Brian Wong continues. This would prevent cancer cells from spreading and leading to more effective treatment for cancer patients.
Further research will be on fat burning inhibitors
Future research will test so-called fat burning inhibitors for their ability to reduce metastasis in various cancers. Thus, it can be determined whether special fat supplements (for example in the form of ketone bodies, which are used for example by athletes) can cure defective lymphatic vessels, say the scientists.
Impact of defective lymphatic vessels
Defective lymphatic vessels are a major complication in the treatment of cancer patients. In surgical removal of cancer, these vessels can cause swelling and dysfunction of the arms and legs, which is also called lymphoedema, explain the physicians. There is currently no drug available for this problem.
Further research is needed
The immediate next studies focus on further translating these findings to cancer, says author Professor Carmeliet. Previously, we could not develop drugs that target the growth of lymphatic vessels. The reason was that we did not understand their development and function, the professor adds. (As)