Study says high cholesterol may fuel breast cancer

credit: healthrender.com

According to researchers a byproduct of cholesterol functions like the hormone oestrogen to fuel the growth and spread of the most common types of breast cancers.

Published in the edition of the journal Science, the new US research, which was conducted on mice, shows for the first time how a breakdown product of cholesterol called 27HC drives breast cancer by mimicking the effects of the hormone oestrogen. The hormone oestrogen feeds an estimated 75% of all breast cancers.

The studies were substantiated using human breast cancer tissue. An additional finding in the human tissue showed a direct correlation between the aggressiveness of the tumour and an abundance of the enzyme that makes the 27HC molecule. They also noted that 27HC could be made in other places in the body and transported to the tumor.

McDonnell, the lead scientist from Duke University Medical Centre in Durham, North Carolina, said the findings suggest there may be a simple way to reduce the risk of breast cancer by keeping cholesterol in check, either with statins or a healthy diet.

For more trending news and updates, like us on Facebook follow us on Twitter add us to your circle in Google+ and we will keep you posted directly on your news feeds.