In a study published this month in the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research, scientists shed light on a key factor that can make ovarian cancer particularly deadly: obesity.
but that obesity, considered a non-communicable pandemic, increases the risk of ovarian cancer and reduces the likelihood of survival from this disease. Researchers from the US have found an explanation for this fact.
Researchers analyzed the tissues of cancerous tumors in patients with ovarian cancer. They were able to compare tissues from patients with a high body mass index (BMI) and those with a lower BMI. And they identified two important differences.
In cancer patients with a BMI above 30 (the obesity range), scientists found a particular pattern in the type of immune cells surrounding cancerous tumors. They found changes in populations of immune cells called macrophages that infiltrate the tumor. This is usually associated with later stages of cancer and poor survival.
Cancer tumors in obese patients were also surrounded by tougher fibrous tissue, which is known to help tumors resist chemotherapy treatment. The team was also able to confirm their findings by observing similar patterns in mice with ovarian cancer fed a high-fat diet.
Scientists emphasize that this study offers hope for more effective treatments for ovarian cancer, despite the prevalence of obesity worldwide.