A recent study has indicated that Brazil nuts may hold the key to preventing the spread of triple negative breast cancer. The research, supported by Cancer Research UK, proposes that limiting the antioxidant effects of selenium, commonly found in multivitamin supplements and everyday foods like meat, mushrooms, and cereals, could play a crucial role in controlling this type of cancer.
Triple negative breast cancer is known to be challenging to treat, but it is often manageable through therapy and surgery unless it spreads to other parts of the body, making it inoperable. Selenium, a vital antioxidant, was previously thought to aid in combating cancer cells. However, the study discovered that cancer cells have a high requirement for selenium, particularly when they are scattered and not densely packed in cell clusters. When grouped together, these cancer cells produce a specific type of fat molecule containing oleic acid, which shields them from a type of cell death known as ferroptosis induced by selenium deficiency.
Published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, the research highlights that isolated triple negative breast cancer cells, such as those moving to different parts of the body, cannot survive without selenium. By disrupting the selenium metabolism in these sparse cancer cells, the research team at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow successfully eliminated these cells, particularly those in the bloodstream seeking to metastasize to the lungs. This breakthrough offers hope for developing new treatments to prevent the spread of the disease.
Lead researcher Dr. Saverio Tardito from the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and the Centre for Cancer Research at the Medical University of Vienna expressed optimism about the findings. He highlighted the importance of finding a treatment that interferes with the selenium uptake by triple negative breast cancer cells to potentially halt the cancer’s spread.
With approximately 56,800 people diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year, around 15% are affected by triple negative breast cancer. This type of cancer can be triggered by mutations in the BRCA genes, increasing the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer. Dr. Sam Godfrey, Cancer Research UK Science Engagement Lead, emphasised that outcomes for patients with triple negative breast cancer can often be more challenging compared to other cancer types. Research like this could be instrumental in preventing the spread of this aggressive form of cancer, potentially transforming treatment approaches.
Lisa Bancroft, a resident of Dunfermline, Fife, who underwent preventative surgery due to a genetic fault that predisposed her to cancer, expressed her support for the research. Having lost family members to cancer, including her aunt to triple negative breast cancer, she stressed the importance of such advancements in treatment options for patients. The potential implications of the research extend beyond the current generation, offering hope for safer and more effective treatments in the future.
As medical science continues to progress rapidly, the hope is that research breakthroughs like this will lead to significant advancements in cancer treatment and prevention. The promising findings from this study offer a glimmer of hope to individuals affected by triple negative breast cancer, showcasing the potential for more targeted and effective therapies to combat this challenging disease.