Research finds that a diet enriched with trans-vaccenic acid reduces the growth potential of melanoma and colon cancer cells
Long considered only a risk factor for cancer, a study byUniversity of Chicago rehabilitates, at least in part, the consumption of Red meat. In fact, researchers have discovered that in meat and dairy products from grazing animals such as cows and sheep, there is a nutrient,trans-vaccenic acid (TVA)which the human body cannot produce on its own and which may be able to strengthen the immune response against cancer, as well as enhance the effectiveness ofimmunotherapy. The results, just published in the journal Naturewill be discussed on the occasion of the ninth edition of theImmunotherapy Bridgewhich will be held in Naples from 29 to 30 November, and the 14th edition of Melanoma Bridge which will be held immediately afterwards, from 30 to 2 December.
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“TVA is present in human milk, but the body cannot produce it on its own”, explains Paolo Ascierto, director of SC Medical Oncology Melanoma Oncological Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapies National Cancer Institute IRCCS Pascale Foundation of Naples. “Only about 20% of TVA it is broken down into other by-products, leaving 80% of it circulating in the blood. Experiments conducted by scientists at the University of Chicago on mouse models of various tumors – he continues – have found that a diet enriched with TVA significantly reduces the growth potential of melanoma and colon cancer cells. The TVA diet also improved brain capacity CD8+ T cells to infiltrate tumors.” The team also performed a series of molecular and genetic analyzes to understand how TVA affects T cells. These additional tests showed that TVA inhibits a cell surface receptor called GPR43which is usually activated by short-chain fatty acids often produced by intestinal microbiota. TVA overrides these short-chain fatty acids and activates a cell signaling process known as “Creb route”, which is involved in a variety of functions including the cell growth, survival and differentiation. Finally, the team also analyzed blood samples taken from patients undergoing CAR T-cell immunotherapy treatment for lymphoma, a therapy that involves modifying the patient’s own T lymphocytes. They observed that patients with higher TVA levels tended to respond better to treatment than those with lower levels. They also tested leukemia-related cell linesand they saw that TVA improved the ability of an immunotherapy drug to kill tumor cells.
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“But be careful: the study does not indicate excessive consumption of red meat and dairy products – specifies Ascierto -. Rather, the findings suggest that TVA could be used as a dietary supplement to help increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments, although it is important to determine the optimal amount of the nutrient itself to take. In fact, what matters is the nutrient TVA and its possible intake in the right doses, not its source (meat and dairy products)”.
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