Breast cancer cases are on the rise worldwide, especially the aggressive forms like triple-negative breast cancer, which are more common in women under 40, as per the American Cancer Society.
A new study warns that Type 2 Diabetes, a rapidly growing lifestyle disease, can fuel aggressive breast cancer tumours. It is because the metabolic disorder can change the way your immune cells react, making them weaker and unable to contain the growth of the tumour.
Researchers from Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine delve into this connection and discover how tiny blood particles called exosomes, which change in response to diabetes, can retrain immune cells within tumors and weaken the body’s natural defenses. Due to this, the breast cancer grows and spreads more rapidly. The study published in Springer Nature is the first of its kind to directly link exosomes from people with type 2 diabetes to suppressed immune activity inside human breast tumors.
Tumour samples from breast cancer patients were studied by researchers to grow 3D tumour models in the lab to understand how immune cells found in the tumour behave in the patients. They analysed the organoids using single-cell RNA sequencing.
“Breast cancer is already challenging to treat, and people with type 2 diabetes have worse outcomes, but clinicians don’t fully understand why,” said Gerald Denis, PhD, the Shipley Prostate Cancer Research Professor at BU.
“Our study reveals one possible reason: diabetes changes the way the immune system works inside tumors. This could help explain why current treatments, like immunotherapy, don’t work as well in patients with diabetes. Knowing this opens the door to better, more personalized treatments for millions of people,” said the researchers.
Rise in aggressive breast cancer
Breast cancer tumours may be slow-growing or fast-growing. According to the American Cancer Society, the most aggressive types of breast cancers include inflammatory breast cancer and angiosarcoma of the breast. Ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ and phyllodes tumors are categorised among slow-growing.
According to PubMed Central (PMC), breast cancer in young patients is more aggressive and its prognosis is often worse than other types.
What is Type 2 Diabetes and why it’s a growing threat
Diabetes is a lifestyle disease that occurs due to the malfunction of the pancreas when it’s not able to produce enough insulin, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Sometimes the body is not able to effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. High blood sugar in the bloodstream can cause serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.
Diabetes can thus pose a risk to heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves health.
To avoid damage to the body, it’s essential to consume a balanced diet with the correct amount of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Regular physical exercise and stress management can also be beneficial.
