⁣ 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
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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.
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​ 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.
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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
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