(22-05-07) Boffins find link between obesity and breast cancer

Washington, Apr 30 : A new study has found that leptin, a hormone found in fat cells increased breast cancer development, thus noting the link between obesity and breast cancer.

Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women, shortens the time between return of the disease and lowers overall survival rates, and boffins are now hopeful that the identification of the link may help find new targets for drugs that could intervene in that mechanism.

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, is best known for its efforts to send messages to the body that no more food is needed, a process that may go awry in many people with obesity. But it also is involved in many other processes, from reproduction and lactation to cell differentiation and proliferation. Leptin is activated by signals from the leptin receptor ObR, and it is this partnership which results in the development of breast cancer.

Earlier studies have demonstrated that leptin play a significant role in promoting breast cancer in obese women by increasing the amount of estrogen (estradiol) in breast tissue.

As part of this study, researchers led by Dr. Sebastiano Ando grafted human breast cancer tissue in 'nude' mice (genetically bred to be unable to reject tumours and therefore frequently used animals in cancer research) and also in a three dimensional tissue culture which closely mimics biological features of tumours.

Researchers found that in both the cases, combined exposure to leptin and estradiol increased tumour size, sometimes doubling it, and these changes correlated with an increase in E-cadherin.

Researchers believe that it is reasonable to suggest that the tumour suppressor E-cadherin may enhance tumour when exposed to leptin and estradiol, as its ability to help cells aggregate then enhances the transformation of normal cells to cancerous cones, stimulating the growth of tumour mass.

The findings of the research were presented at Experimental Biology in Washington, DC, a scientific program of the American Society of Investigative Pathology.

source: http://www.newkerala.com/

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