Belly Fat Responsible for Spread of Ovarian Cancer in Women

A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine suggests that the accumulation of fat in the abdomen could serve as a launching pad for the spread of cancers among women. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Chicago who found that increased accumulation of fat in the abdomen not only helped in the growth of ovarian cancer, but also increased the risk of other cancers.

The researchers injected ovarian cancer cells into healthy mice. They found that when the cancer cells reached a region of the abdomen known as omentum, they were able to grow faster as they fed off the fat in the region.

“This fatty tissue acts as a launching pad and energy source for the likely lethal spread of ovarian cancer. The cells contain the biological equivalent of jet fuel. They feed the cancer cells, enabling them to multiply rapidly”, lead researcher Dr Ernst Lengyel said.

Source-Medindia