deep Belly Fat Linked to Aggressive Cancer Growth in Women, New Research Reveals
October 5, 2025, 10:22:23 AM EST – A groundbreaking study published today in Cancer Research establishes a notable connection between activity within deep abdominal fat – also known as visceral fat – and the accelerated growth of aggressive cancers in women. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that increased metabolic activity in visceral fat deposits correlates with poorer outcomes in patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
The findings represent a critical shift in understanding cancer progression, moving beyond established risk factors like genetics and lifestyle to pinpoint a potentially modifiable biological mechanism driving disease severity. This research impacts an estimated 284,920 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and 21,750 women with ovarian cancer in the United States alone in 2025, according to the American Cancer Society. Understanding this link could pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions targeting visceral fat metabolism to improve treatment efficacy and patient survival rates.
The study,led by Dr. Melanie R. Daniel, examined tissue samples and metabolic data from 300 women undergoing cancer treatment. Researchers discovered that women with higher levels of activity in their visceral fat - measured by analyzing the expression of genes involved in inflammation and lipid metabolism – exhibited faster tumor growth and a reduced response to chemotherapy. Specifically, the research team identified a pathway involving the protein Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1), which facilitates the transport of metabolites between visceral fat and cancer cells, fueling tumor proliferation.
“We observed that visceral fat isn’t simply a passive storage depot,” explained Dr. Daniel. “It’s an active endocrine organ that can directly influence cancer cell behavior. The increased metabolic activity in visceral fat appears to create a microenvironment that supports aggressive tumor growth.”
triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer,both known for their aggressive nature and limited treatment options,where the focus of the study due to their especially poor prognoses. The research team is now investigating weather similar mechanisms are at play in other cancer types and exploring potential strategies to disrupt the metabolic interplay between visceral fat and cancer cells. Future research will focus on clinical trials evaluating the impact of interventions aimed at reducing visceral fat and modulating MCT1 activity on cancer outcomes.