Health experts are raising alarms about the overconsumption of seed and vegetable oils, pointing to new research that links a common component – linoleic acid – to increased inflammation and a heightened risk of aggressive breast cancer.
A study published on March 14 in Science by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine reveals that linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in seed oils like soybean and safflower oil, as well as in pork and eggs, may promote the growth of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) – a particularly aggressive and hard-to-treat form of the disease. TNBC is known for its rapid spread and lower five-year survival rate (77%) compared to other breast cancer types (90%).
The research team discovered that linoleic acid fuels tumour growth by activating a key cellular growth pathway. This happens when the acid binds to a protein called FABP5, which is found in high levels in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Interestingly, this growth-promoting effect was not observed in hormone-sensitive breast cancer subtypes, where FABP5 is less active.
“This study helps clarify how specific dietary fats can influence cancer biology,” said senior author Dr. John Blenis, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Professor of Cancer Research at Weill Cornell Medicine. “It also opens the door to more personalized nutritional guidelines and potential treatments tailored to patients based on their cancer subtype.”
