High-Fat Diet Increases Liver Cancer Risk
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High-fat Diets Drive Liver Cells Towards Cancerous State, MIT Study finds
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Published December 23, 2023, at 15:23 EST
Diet-Induced Cellular Reversion increases Cancer Risk
A diet rich in fat alters liver cells, returning them to an immature state and making them more likely to become cancerous, according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reported on December 18, 2023, in the journal Cell. Cell
Researchers discovered that in response to a high-fat diet, mature hepatocytes – the primary functional cells of the liver - revert to an immature, stem cell-like state. This adaptation helps them survive the stress conditions caused by high fat intake, but, in the long term, it increases their susceptibility to developing tumors.
“If liver cells are forced to continually deal with a stressor, such as a high-fat diet, they will do things that help them survive, but at the cost of increasing their susceptibility to developing tumors,” explains Alex Shalek, director of the Institute of Medical Engineering and Sciences at MIT. Alex Shalek’s MIT Profile
Identifying Key Genetic Factors
The research team identified several genetic transcription factors that appear to control this cellular reversal. These factors could be crucial targets for developing therapies aimed at preventing tumor progress in high-risk patients. Transcription factors are proteins that bind to DNA and regulate gene expression, essentially acting as “on” or “off” switches for genes.
Analyzing gene expression patterns allowed the researchers to accurately predict patients’ survival outcomes, suggesting these patterns could serve as biomarkers for early cancer detection and risk assessment.
From Mice to Humans: A Timeline of Cellular Changes
While the mice in the study developed cancer in approximately one year, researchers estimate that the process unfolds over a much longer period in humans – potentially around 20 years. This timeline is, however, variable and influenced by factors such as diet and other risk factors.
Dietary choices, alcohol consumption, and viral infections can all favor the reversion of liver cells to an immature state. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections, for example, are well-established risk factors for liver cancer. National Cancer Institute – Liver Cancer
| Organism | Approximate Cancer Development Time |
|---|---|
| Mice | 1 year |
| Humans | ~20 years (variable) |
Reversing the Effects: Future Research Directions
Researchers are now investigating whether the changes induced by a high-fat diet can be reversed by returning to a normal diet or by utilizing weight-loss medications, such