Huntsman Cancer Institute researchers link obesity to breast cancer risk

Researchers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah have identified a biological mechanism that explains why obesity is a significant risk factor for breast cancer. The study, published in the journal Science, reveals that lean fat cells, or adipocytes, produce a specific lipid called 9S-HODE that helps inhibit the growth of breast cancer.

This lipid promotes ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death that allows the body to purge damaged or cancerous cells. The research team found that lean adipocytes produce significantly higher levels of 9S-HODE than obese adipocytes. Consequently, in individuals with obesity, the reduction of this protective molecule prevents the natural process of killing cancerous cells, creating a microenvironment that allows cancer to thrive.