Spanish researchers have found a new marker CD36, or CD-36, a metastasis-promoting protein receptor on the membranes of cancer cells, which picks up fatty acids and is linked to greater metastasis and a poorer prognosis and survival.
Many oncologists have observed that people with cancer and higher triglyceride (bad fat) levels in the blood, survive least. Now researchers in Spain have discovered ’why?’ Certain types of cancer cells have more CD36, a cell surface receptor which encourages fat uptake, and it is these cells that spread in the body. This action, called metastasis, is what makes cancer a killer with 90 per cent of cancer deaths linked to metastases.
Researchers from Barcelona led by Salvador Aznar Benitah at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (Nature) are studying antibodies to block CD36.
Chris Woollams, former Oxford University Biochemist and Founder of CANCERactive commented, “A number of studies have shown that high levels of triglycerides in the blood are linked to lower survival times. We have covered research, for example, on the link between blood triglyceride levels and prostate cancer resurgence. Some oncologists in London have already been using complementary treatment statins in small doses to reduce plasma levels of bad fats.
Cutting bad fats from the diet and substituting good fats like extra virgin olive oil, nut, seed and fish oils can also have a significant effect.
Go To: The Rainbow Diet
One research study covered in Cancer Watch showed that cancer cell surfaces were highly inflamed and bad fats could stick to the surface, in effect blocking the immune system’s ability to see the cancer cells. Some scientists believe this is one reason why a small daily aspirin (75mg) can be so helpful. Other studies have shown increased survival times when people take common antihistamines.
Go to: Aspirin has significant anti-cancer benefits
One of the most interesting findings has been that a healthy microbiome contains commensal bacteria which produce certain short chain esters and these BLOCK the formation of bad triglycerides. Of course, after the oncologists’ drugs and antibiotics, you may not have these good bacteria present in your gut! A good probiotic can help a lot, but the best is to Heal Ur Gut with a definite plan to kill the bad guys and add back in the good guys.
It’s a complex subject”.
Go to: Heal Ur Gut.
The results are supported by work (2) in Louvain University, Belgium, where Professor Feron has shown that cancer cells stock up on lipids as their energy stores to enable them to move off round the body to distant organs. He believes the cancer cells must have their own 'back-pack' full of lipids prior to the journey.
* * * * *
Reference