Gut microbes linked to fatty diet drive tumour growth
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01443-4
Researchers have uncovered a significant link between a high-fat diet, gut bacteria, and breast cancer growth. A study found that a fatty diet boosts Desulfovibrio bacteria in the gut, which suppresses the immune system and accelerates tumor growth. By analyzing both human and mouse data, the researchers discovered that these bacteria produce excess leucine, an amino acid that increases immunosuppressive cells, allowing tumors to thrive. This groundbreaking finding opens new possibilities for breast cancer treatments by potentially targeting these harmful bacteria. The study emphasizes the critical role of gut microbes in cancer progression and suggests that modifying the gut microbiome could lead to better treatment outcomes.