U.S. research team identifies specific tumor growth promotion mechanism
Link between high-fat diet and cancer growth
Getty Images Korea Oleic acid, known as a fatty acid contained in olive oil, has been shown to promote the growth of obesity-related cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC). The research team confirmed that a high-fat diet containing large amounts of oleic acid accelerates cancer growth by accumulating oleic acid in certain tumors. The mechanism by which oleic acid promotes tumor growth was also identified. Based on this, it is expected that new cancer treatment clues will be discovered.
Professor Sreya Bagchi’s research team at Stanford University confirmed that when the acidity (pH) of a tumor increases due to oleic acid, the immune activity of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) is suppressed and the growth of malignant cancer is promoted. The research results were published on the 18th in the international academic journal ‘Science Immunology’.
Tumor-associated macrophages are one of the immune cells present at high frequency in solid tumors. It engulfs and decomposes cellular waste, foreign substances, microorganisms, cancer cells, and abnormal proteins. It plays a role in activating acquired immune responses through interactions with other immune cells such as lymphocytes.
Oleic acid is the main component of fatty acids contained in olive oil. Among the various benefits of olive oil, it is an omega-9 unsaturated fatty acid that plays a role in lowering blood pressure. Oleic acid is also rich in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is called ‘good cholesterol’ as it plays a role in moving blood cholesterol to the liver. For this reason, oleic acid is commonly used in the Mediterranean diet, a representative diet for weight and health management.
Previously, oleic acid received attention for its anticancer effect against various cancers. As a result of a study conducted on 62,000 postmenopausal women by a research team at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, it was confirmed that the risk of developing breast cancer was significantly reduced in women who consumed a lot of oleic acid through pecans, a type of nut, and olive oil. However, there were some unknown details about the exact action of oleic acid accumulated in the body, such as its effect on the human body.
The research team focused on the various roles oleic acid plays in the body. In particular, animal experiments using rats were conducted to determine whether this ingredient could affect obesity-related physiological processes in the body. Obese mice with colon cancer were given sufficient oleic acid through a high-fat diet. Obesity is one of the risk factors for colon cancer. As a result of the experiment, oleic acid entering the body increased the acidity of colon cancer tumors in the rat’s body.
As the acidity of the tumor increased, ‘GPR65’, an acid-sensing receptor in tumor-related macrophages, was activated. As this receptor became active, the original inflammation-suppressing activity of tumor-related macrophages decreased and cancer growth was promoted. Colon cancer tumor levels increased in both mice and humans who consumed a high-fat diet rich in oleic acid. It was confirmed that colon cancer tumors grew rapidly even when oleic acid was directly injected into mice.
The research team explained, “When too much oleic acid accumulates, oxidative phosphorylation, a type of energy-generating process in human tumors, increases.” During this process, acidic by-products are released and lead to cancer growth. In addition, the research team also confirmed that the promotion of cancer growth occurs more actively when obese due to acidification of tumor-related macrophages. The research team said, “This study revealed why tumors grow faster in obese patients,” and added, “It identified a potential therapeutic target for treating cancer.”
Donga Science Reporter Park Jeong-yeon hesse@donga.com
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