Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Researchers Discover How Tumors ‘Steal’ Energy From Fat Cells
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A groundbreaking study from UCSF reveals a surprising mechanism driving the aggressive growth of triple-negative breast cancer, offering potential new avenues for treatment.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is notoriously arduous to treat due to its aggressive nature and lack of common receptors targeted by many therapies. Now, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have uncovered a critical piece of the puzzle: how TNBC tumors rapidly acquire the energy thay need to proliferate. The findings, published in Nature Communications, demonstrate that thes tumors actively “steal” energy from surrounding fat cells, utilizing microscopic tunnels to fuel their growth.
The observation stemmed from noticing a depletion of fat cells in the vicinity of developing TNBC tumors. Dr. Andrei Goga,professor of cell biology and tissue engineering at the Helen Diller Family Extensive Cancer Center of UCSF,and lead author of the study,explains,”The cancers thrive by hijacking the energy sources of the body,and I have identified how this mechanism works in triple-negative breast cancer. It is a major opportunity for us to develop effective strategies to treat the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.”
Molecular Tunnels: A Direct Energy Link
The UCSF team discovered that TNBC cells establish direct connections with nearby fat cells, creating channels for interaction. through these channels,cancer cells send signals compelling fat cells to release their energy reserves – essentially providing a direct food source for the tumor. Experiments conducted on both patient-derived cells and laboratory models confirmed that blocking these connections effectively halted tumor growth.
This process isn’t simply a passive uptake of nutrients. The tumor cells actively instruct the fat cells to release energy, demonstrating a sophisticated level of metabolic manipulation. As Dr.Goga notes, understanding this mechanism is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Clinical Implications and Future Research
While drugs specifically targeting these connections in breast cancer are still under development, the research offers a promising pathway forward. Interestingly, similar treatments are already being evaluated in clinical trials for brain cancer, suggesting a potential for repurposing existing therapies.
The study was funded by the Defense Department and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), highlighting the importance of this research for both civilian and military healthcare. The UCSF laboratory’s findings represent a significant step towards understanding and combating this devastating form of cancer.
“The cancers thrive by hijacking the energy sources of the body… It is a major opportunity for us to develop effective strategies to treat the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.” – Dr. Andrei Goga, UCSF Professor of Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering