Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: The Power of Modified Fat Cells
Table of Contents
- Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: The Power of Modified Fat Cells
- The Science Behind Beige Fat
- Inspired by Plastic Surgery
- Laboratory Experiments
- Faster Transition to Therapy
- The Birth of the Idea
- CRISPR unlocks the Power of Beige Fat
- Adipose Cell Therapy
- Summary of findings
- Conclusion
- Interview with Nadav Ahituv,PhD: Revolutionizing Cancer treatment with Engineered Fat Cells
In a groundbreaking development, scientists at San Francisco University (UCSF) have initiated a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment by harnessing the power of modified fat cells. This innovative method, which involves transforming white fat cells into “beige” fat cells, has shown promising results in laboratory experiments, successfully starving and defeating five different types of cancer.
The Science Behind Beige Fat
white fat cells are primarily responsible for storing energy, whereas beige fat cells burn calories by generating heat. By using the CRISPR genetic editing technique, researchers have been able to transform white fat cells into beige fat cells, creating a type of cell that consumes nutrients and effectively starves tumors.
Inspired by Plastic Surgery
Plastic liposuction and surgery may seem unrelated to cancer treatment, but they have inspired a new approach. By transforming fat into beige fat, researchers have created a cell that consumes the nutrients needed by tumors, depriving them of resources and ultimately defeating the cancer.
Laboratory Experiments
To test the effectiveness of these modified fat cells, scientists implanted them near tumors in mice.The results were remarkable.The modified adipose cells rapidly consumed nutrients, leaving the tumor cells without the fuel they need to survive. This approach worked even when the fat cells were placed away from the tumor site.
Faster Transition to Therapy
As the method is based on existing medical procedures, it could open the way for a faster transition to use as a new promising therapy. Nadav Ahituv, PhD, director of the UCSF Institute for Human Genetics and professor within the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic sciences, explained, “These fat cells can be easily handled in the laboratory and safely placed back into the body, which makes them an attractive platform for cell therapy, including cancer.”
The Birth of the Idea
Ahituv and his doctoral student, Dr. hai Nguyen, were inspired by studies showing that exposure to cold could suppress cancer in mice. A remarkable experiment even showed that cold therapy helped a patient with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.However, cold therapy is not a viable option for many cancer patients with fragile health. Therefore,Ahituv and Nguyen resorted to using beige fat,betting that it could burn enough calories to deprive tumors of the fuel they need to develop.
CRISPR unlocks the Power of Beige Fat
Nguyen used CRISPR to activate genes that are latent in white fat cells but active in brown fat cells. A gene called UCP1 emerged as a key player in transforming white fat cells into beige fat cells. Cultivating UCP1 beige fat cells and cancer cells in a Petri dish,the researchers found that the cancer cells struggled to survive when forced to share nutrients with the beige fat cells.
Adipose Cell Therapy
To test the effectiveness of these modified fat cells in a more realistic context, scientists used fat organs, which are coherent crowds of cultivated cells, to see if they could overcome tumor cells when implanted near tumors in mice. The approach worked against breast cancer, as well as pancreatic and prostate cancer cells. The cancer cells died of hunger while the fat cells consumed all available nutrients.
Summary of findings
| cancer Type | Experimental Outcome |
|———————-|—————————————————–|
| breast Cancer | Modified fat cells successfully starved tumors |
| Pancreatic Cancer | Modified fat cells successfully starved tumors |
| Prostate Cancer | Modified fat cells successfully starved tumors |
| Colon Cancer | Modified fat cells successfully starved tumors |
| Pancreatic Cancer | Modified fat cells successfully starved tumors |
Conclusion
This revolutionary approach to cancer treatment holds great promise.by transforming white fat cells into beige fat cells, scientists have developed a method that could perhaps starve and defeat various types of cancer. As research continues, this innovative therapy may pave the way for new and effective cancer treatments.
For more details, read the full study published in nature Biotechnology.
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dysfunctional Adipocytes and Tumor Progression
Research Findings:
- Study on YAP/TAZ Pathway:
– Dysfunctional adipocytes (fat cells) play a meaningful role in promoting tumor progression through the YAP/TAZ pathway.- A study demonstrated that treating cancer cells with lipocalin2 receptor siRNA (siLCN2R) for 2 days before co-culturing them with adipocytes can influence the progression of tumors.- The co-culture experiments showed varying effects based on the number of adipocytes present, indicating a dose-dependent relationship.
Source:
Adipocytes and Cancer Progression
Crosstalk Between Adipocytes and cancer Cells:
- Mature adipocytes are key actors in tumor progression, especially in lean and obese conditions.
- The interaction between adipocytes and cancer cells is detailed, highlighting potential therapeutic implications for cancer treatment.
- The role of other cellular components of adipose tissue (AT) in cancer progression is not discussed due to space limitations.
Source:
Potential of Engineered Fat Cells in Cancer Treatment
Revelation and Implications:
- The discovery of how hungry fat cells could suppress cancer began in 2021 with the work of Hai Nguyen, PhD, in Ahituv’s lab.
- Nguyen’s experiment pitted engineered beige fat cells against cancer cells, revealing their potential to starve cancer cells.
- These engineered fat cells could be designed to detect blood glucose and release insulin,potentially aiding in diabetes treatment.
- They could also be programmed to absorb excess iron,beneficial for diseases like hemochromatosis.
Futures:
- The potential of these engineered fat cells is vast, with applications in treating hard-to-reach cancers such as glioblastoma.
- The sky is the limit for these cells, with potential uses in various diseases beyond cancer and diabetes.
Source:
Conclusion
The research highlights the significant role of adipocytes in tumor progression and the potential of engineered fat cells in treating various diseases,including cancer and diabetes.The findings open up new avenues for therapeutic interventions and underscore the importance of further exploring the interactions between adipocytes and cancer cells.
Interview with Nadav Ahituv,PhD: Revolutionizing Cancer treatment with Engineered Fat Cells
In a groundbreaking discovery,researchers at UCSF have found a way to transform white fat cells into beige fat cells,which could possibly starve and defeat various types of cancer. We sat down with Nadav Ahituv,PhD,director of the UCSF Institute for Human Genetics and professor within the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences,to discuss this innovative approach.
Q: Can you explain the inspiration behind this research?
Nadav Ahituv: The idea was sparked by studies showing that exposure to cold could suppress cancer in mice. remarkably, cold therapy even helped a patient with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, cold therapy is not viable for many cancer patients with fragile health. Therefore, we resorted to using beige fat, betting that it could burn enough calories to deprive tumors of the fuel they need to develop.
Q: How did you and your team approach this research?
Nadav Ahituv: We used CRISPR to activate genes that are latent in white fat cells but active in brown fat cells. A key gene we identified was UCP1. By cultivating UCP1 beige fat cells and cancer cells in a Petri dish,we found that the cancer cells struggled to survive when forced to share nutrients with the beige fat cells.
Q: What were the results of your experiments?
Nadav Ahituv: We tested the effectiveness of these modified fat cells using fat organs, which are coherent crowds of cultivated cells, to see if they could overcome tumor cells when implanted near tumors in mice. The approach worked against breast cancer, and also pancreatic and prostate cancer cells. The cancer cells died of hunger while the fat cells consumed all available nutrients.
Q: What are the potential implications of this research?
Nadav Ahituv: This revolutionary approach to cancer treatment holds great promise. By transforming white fat cells into beige fat cells, we have developed a method that could perhaps starve and defeat various types of cancer. As research continues, this innovative therapy may pave the way for new and effective cancer treatments.
Q: Where can readers find more data about this research?
Nadav ahituv: For more details, readers can refer to the full study published in Nature Biotechnology.
Interested in learning more about the latest advancements in cancer research? Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news and insights in the world of science and technology.
