New research from the University of Florida emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet, particularly in reducing sugar intake, as a key factor in lung cancer prevention. The study, published in Nature Metabolism on March 11, sheds light on the overlooked role of glycogen, a form of glucose stored in the body after consuming sugary foods, as a potential contributor to lung cancer development.
Lung cancer, traditionally not associated with diet, is now linked to the accumulation of glycogen, a discovery that challenges previous assumptions. “Lung cancer has not traditionally been thought of as a dietary-related disease,” said Ramon Sun, Director of the Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule Research at the University of Florida. “While pancreatic or liver cancer have been linked to diet, the idea that lung cancer could be influenced by food intake is rarely discussed.”
The study, the first of its kind conducted at a National Cancer Institute-certified center, involved feeding mice a sugary Western-style diet and observing increased tumor growth. This new evidence suggests that the key to preventing lung cancer may not only involve avoiding smoking, but also maintaining a balanced diet, exercising, and limiting alcohol consumption.
The researchers concluded that glycogen accumulation accelerates the progression of lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer that accounts for approximately 40% of global cases. “Our findings support the conclusion that glycogen accumulation drives lung adenocarcinoma cancer progression,” the team wrote in their study.
Abass Oduola, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Washington University in St. Louis, underscored the significance of this research by highlighting glycogen as a potential target for future cancer therapies. “Imagine a future where we could starve cancer cells by cutting off their glycogen supply,” he shared on social media.
The study also draws attention to the challenges high glycogen levels pose in cancer treatment. Accumulated glycogen is known to contribute to resistance against radiation and chemotherapy, making it harder for treatments to be effective. Previous research has shown that reducing glucose availability or inhibiting glycolysis may slow cancer cell growth and enhance the effectiveness of cytotoxic drugs.
This groundbreaking research underscores the critical role diet may play in lung cancer prevention, opening the door to potential new treatments targeting glycogen and glucose metabolism in cancer cells.
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