Fat Cells Help Tumors Grow

Summary:
For decades, scientific research has suggested a link between obesity and cancer, but not until now has a study begun to show how fat progenitor cells may contribute to the deadly disease. Recently, scientists have found that tumors emit a signal that attracts progenitor cells from white adipose tissue in cancer. It is found that the excess of the adipose tissue does something to tumors and that cells from fat tissue travel to help tumors grow. Some of these adipose cells are developed into fat cells within tumors while others are incorporated into tumor-associated blood vessels, which support tumor growth by bring in oxygen and nutrients needed for cancer cells to survive and reproduce. Although this research proves that fat cells help cancer spread, it cannot be said that they also trigger cancer in the beginning.

Relevance:
This study is relevant to our current unit because we are learning about cells and macromolecules, what they are made of and how they function in our bodies. This study shows how adipose cells function and how they develop to help the progression of cancer as well as how the macromolecule lipids (fat cells) contribute to the spread of cancer cells. This article also explains how adipose cells are developed into lipids within a tumor. Lastly, this study involves cancer cells and what conditions help them grow better.

October 17, 2012  Research by Dr. Kolonin
http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/fat-cells-help-tumors-grow/81247496/