Scientists have discovered that a common type of fat found in many processed foods may help some cancers spread more easily.
The finding has raised new questions about the relationship between diet and cancer, although experts stress that it is still too early for people to change their eating habits based on this research alone.
The study was carried out by researchers at IRB Barcelona and published in the journal Nature. Their work focused on palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid that is naturally found in palm oil and is also present in many packaged foods, baked goods, snacks, and other everyday products.
Cancer becomes especially dangerous when it spreads from its original location to other parts of the body. This process, known as metastasis, is responsible for most cancer-related deaths. Although treatments have improved greatly, preventing cancer cells from spreading remains one of the biggest challenges in medicine.
The researchers wanted to know whether different dietary fats could influence metastasis. They tested several fatty acids but found that palmitic acid had a unique effect. In laboratory experiments using mice with mouth cancer and melanoma, a type of skin cancer, tumors spread more quickly after exposure to this fat.
One of the most surprising discoveries was that the cancer cells seemed to remember their exposure to palmitic acid. Even after the fatty acid was no longer present, the cells remained highly aggressive and continued to spread.
This long-lasting effect was linked to epigenetic changes. Epigenetics refers to changes that control how genes are switched on or off without changing the DNA itself. In this case, palmitic acid appeared to activate genes that helped cancer cells survive, adapt, and invade other parts of the body.
The team also found that exposed cancer cells interacted differently with nearby tissues. They formed a nerve-like network around tumors, making it easier for the cancer to communicate with its surroundings and establish new tumors in distant organs.
These findings could eventually lead to new treatments. Instead of targeting the cancer cells directly, future medicines may block the biological changes triggered by palmitic acid, making it harder for tumors to spread. The researchers are now developing potential therapies and hope to begin clinical trials in people.
Despite the exciting discovery, the scientists urge caution. This research was carried out mainly in laboratory models and mice, so it does not prove that eating foods containing palm oil directly causes cancer to spread in humans. Much more research is needed before dietary recommendations can be changed.
The study highlights how lifestyle factors may influence cancer in ways scientists are only beginning to understand. As researchers continue to investigate the connection between nutrition and cancer biology, their work may lead to new strategies that combine healthy lifestyles with advanced treatments to reduce the risk of metastasis.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that artificial sweeteners are linked to higher cancer risk, and how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and results showing vitamin D supplements strongly reduces cancer death.
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