As it turned out cholesterol and cancer have been linked in an unexpected way

The University of Illinois has clearly shown how a cholesterol metabolism byproduct (27HC molecule) affects specific immune cells in such a way that they begin to support the spread of cancer. So, a group of researchers have revealed an abnormal activity among immune cells (neutrophils and T cells) at the sites of metastases with a high 27HC level.

The idea is that normally the immune system attacks cancer. But, 27HC deceives the immune cells by convincing them of the harmlessness of cancer, Xinhua notes. In the study, the scientists fed breast cancer mice with high cholesterol foods; as a result the tumors in the rodents began to grow actively.

There’s more to it than breast cancer. 27HC affects not the cancer itself, but the immune system. Therefore, it is important for the development of various types of cancer (especially solid tumors), including melanoma, intestinal, lung and pancreatic cancer as well as its metastasis. Now the scientists study the inhibition methods of the enzyme, which is behind 27HC production during cholesterol metabolism. This approach unambiguously worked on the metastasis of breast cancer.

Source: Xinhua