British "Daily Express": Palmitic acid may promote the metastasis of oral cancer and melanoma skin cancer

[British "Daily Express" November 11, 2021 article] Title: "Huge breakthrough", this daily food may cause 90% of cancer cases.

A new study published in the journal Nature by researchers at the Biomedical Research Institute (IRB) in Barcelona, Spain, found that oral and skin cancers spread more easily when palmitic acid was added to the diet of mice.

Metastasis or spread of cancer remains the leading cause of death in cancer patients, with an estimated 90% of cancer deaths caused by metastases, and most metastatic cancer patients can only be treated but not cured.

The researchers found that palmitic acid alters the cancer genome, which in turn greatly increases the likelihood of cancer cells spreading. Palmitic acid is a common fatty acid in palm oil that promotes the metastasis of oral and melanoma skin cancer in mice. Palm oil is widely used in foods such as cakes, chocolates, biscuits, margarine and fried foods, but also in cosmetics, soaps and other cleaning products.

Exposure to palmitic acid alters the function of cancer cell genes, allowing cancer cells to perceive and increase the efficiency with which they consume fatty acids. The presence of palmitic acid also appears to put cancer cells into a "regenerative state," allowing them to form signaling networks outside of tumors, which is thought to be a key step in the spread of cancer cells.

The study shows that exposure to palmitic acid can persistently alter the behavior of cancer cells, making them more susceptible to developing from local metastatic disease to potentially fatal metastatic disease, which provides a strong impetus for further study of how dietary choices affect the risk of tumor progression.

Resources:

httpswww.express.co.uklife-stylehealth1519631Cancer-risk-fatty-acid-palm-oil-metastasis-mouth-skin

Note: This article is intended to introduce the progress of medical research and cannot be used as a reference for treatment options. For health guidance, please visit a regular hospital.

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