Toronto: Cancerous tumour cells expand in the human body by feeding on "bad cholesterols" found in the lipid metabolism, finds a new research.
Tumour cells grow as a result of scavenging on very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) -- commonly known as "bad cholesterol" -- in the body.
The findings of the clinical trials showed that minimising the liver's production of LDL would deprive a tumour from its constant supply and therefore reduce its possibility of growth.
Tumours not only use lipids as "building blocks" to grow, but they can regulate their host's lipid metabolism to increase production of these lipids.
The "bad cholesterol" binds to LDL receptors in the liver, the organ in charge of degrading it and excreting it from the organism as bile.
"Cancer cells need lipids to grow. They can make their own lipids or get more from the host because these cells grow so fast," explains Richard Lehner, professor at University of Alberta in Canada.
Proteins are identified as one of the key factors for this process, which may cause a decrease in the amount of LDL receptors to excrete the cholesterol.
The tumour affects these proteins to reduce clearance of cholesterol from the blood, leaving the LDL for cancer to feed off of it.
The study, published in the journal Cell Reports, explores mechanisms that can be used to reduce the malignant cells' growth.
Should these potential clinical trials prove to be effective, we could be facing an improved way to help cancer patients: eliminating the tumour, while preventing it from growing at the same time, the researchers concluded.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tumour cells grow as a result of scavenging on very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) -- commonly known as "bad cholesterol" -- in the body.
The findings of the clinical trials showed that minimising the liver's production of LDL would deprive a tumour from its constant supply and therefore reduce its possibility of growth.
The "bad cholesterol" binds to LDL receptors in the liver, the organ in charge of degrading it and excreting it from the organism as bile.
Advertisement
Proteins are identified as one of the key factors for this process, which may cause a decrease in the amount of LDL receptors to excrete the cholesterol.
Advertisement
The study, published in the journal Cell Reports, explores mechanisms that can be used to reduce the malignant cells' growth.
Advertisement
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
A Window To Hina Khan's Recovery Journey: "Doing What I Promised Myself" Hina Khan, Battling Cancer, Shares New Pics From Work Diaries: "Keep Going" Hina Khan, Battling Cancer, Shares Pic From Hospital: "Constantly In Pain" After Retest, Haryana NEET Centre With Most Top Scorers Gave This Result... What Recovery Of Austrian Gun 'Steyr AUG' From J&K Terrorists Means The 'Fake' CrowdStrike Worker Who Took Credit For Biggest-Ever IT Outage Accused Of Groping, Jindal Group Executive Sent On Administrative Leave Actor Darshan Directed To Approach Magistrate Court For Home Food In Jail ICSI Hiring Company Secretary Executives, Check Details Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.