High-Fat Diets Linked to Aggressive Breast Cancer: Princeton Study
- Researchers at Princeton University have identified new links between high-fat diets and the progression of aggressive breast cancer.
- The findings, published March 3, 2026, in APL Bioengineering, specifically examine triple-negative breast cancer.
- To study the effects of different diets, the Princeton team utilized 3D engineered tumor models.
Researchers at Princeton University have identified new links between high-fat diets and the progression of aggressive breast cancer. The study suggests that fat plays a significant role in making certain types of cancer more invasive, potentially leading to worse outcomes for patients.
The findings, published March 3, 2026, in APL Bioengineering, specifically examine triple-negative breast cancer. This subtype of cancer is noted for being particularly difficult to treat because it does not respond to most conventional therapies.
Impact of High-Fat Nutrients on Tumor Invasion
To study the effects of different diets, the Princeton team utilized 3D engineered tumor models. They used a human-like plasma medium to mimic the biochemical conditions and nutrient levels found in the blood of patients under various dietary states.
The researchers tested four specific dietary conditions to observe how they influenced the structure and spread of the cancer cells:
- High-fat
- High-insulin
- High-glucose
- High-ketone
The study found that tumors fed with fatty acids and cholesterol exhibited the highest rate of invasion into surrounding tissue. While tumors in the other dietary conditions remained relatively compact, those in high-fat conditions developed small, hollow appendages that reached outward.
These tendrils are characteristic of aggressive cancers. According to principal investigator Celeste Nelson, these leading edges are what allow cancer to invade normal tissues, enter lymphatic or blood vessels, and eventually metastasize.
Metabolic Reprogramming and Enzyme Activity
The research indicates that the effects of a high-fat diet are more impactful on triple-negative breast cancer than the levels of glucose, insulin, or ketones. By isolating specific nutrients, the team was able to examine the metabolic reprogramming occurring within the cancer cells.
A key discovery in the study was the increase of the enzyme MMP1 in tumors exposed to high-fat conditions. This enzyme is responsible for degrading the extracellular matrix, a process that facilitates the growth and invasion of the tumor and is associated with a poor prognosis for the patient.
Celeste M. Nelson
We took the approach of building identical engineered tumors and culturing them in conditions that mimic the blood composition of patients under different dietary states. We were hoping to identify dietary conditions that would slow tumor growth. Instead, we found one dietary condition — a high-fat diet — that sped up tumor growth.
Research Methodology and Observations
The team used a 3D microfluidic tumor model to create a realistic microenvironment. This allowed them to trickle human-like plasma through the tumors and use fluorescence imaging to track invasions into surrounding tissue over several days.
The resulting images showed that branching invasions were most pronounced in the high-fat samples. This evidence supports a growing body of research suggesting that high-fat diets contribute to more aggressive cancer behavior and poorer clinical outcomes.
The study was authored by a multidisciplinary team including Maryam Kohram and other researchers from Princeton University’s departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physics, and Molecular Biology, as well as the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.