Obesity can lead to metastases in cancer patients
A high BMI is associated with a lower survival rate amongst ovarian cancer patients. Researchers in France have found that tumour cells in obese women were more successful at metastising than in those who were leaner. The researchers used mouse models to evaluate tumour cell adhesion to the abdominal cavity and also cell division. They found that lipid-loading the areas around the tumour cells, and also feeding the mice high-fat diets, increased the ability of more cells to develop and subsequently break away and form adhesions to other tissues in the body. These two steps are key in the formation of ovarian cancer metastases.
There is hope that further research into this area may provide dietary interventions to slow, or possibly halt, metastases in ovarian cancer. However, the researchers have admitted that they are still in the very early stages of study for these complicated areas. They also suggest that more research is undertaken in specific mechanisms by which obesity impacts the formation of metastases.
