Breast cancer-fighting gene's job made more difficult by obesity

Medical Xpress / Science Translational Medicine ^ | Feb. 27, 2023 | Justin Jackson / Priya Bhardwaj et al

[ConservativeMind]

A new study has found that in women with BRCA gene mutations, having a high body mass index (BMI) is linked to more DNA damage in breast cells. Specifically, the study discovered that elevated BMI was associated with more damage to epithelium tissue DNA.

Priya Bhardwaj, Ph.D. Candidate and her team worked with cultured healthy breast tissues collected from individuals with mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The samples were categorized as coming from a donor of lower weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2, n = 43) or overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2, n = 26).

BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are protecting people from getting certain cancers by promoting mutation-free cell division and repairing DNA damage in cells. Effectively preventing errors from being reproduced by damaged cells prevents cancerous tumors from forming. Mutations in these genes are so commonly associated with breast cancer that they have the unfortunate fate of being named after the very disease they usually work to suppress.

There are tens of thousands of BRCA variants, most of which do their job well, repairing DNA and keeping us tumor free. However, certain variants can increase the risk that they get the repairs wrong. A bad DNA repair job can quickly become a mutated cell born without its cell signaling genes intact, leading to mutated tissues with an unregulated appetite that ignores requests by surrounding tissues to stop growing, becoming a tumor—and a cancer diagnosis.

The study led by Bhardwaj shows that in addition to potential bad repair jobs by cancer-related BRCA variants, people with elevated BMI run a more significant risk of needing repairs because of increased damage mechanisms. The researchers suggest that maintaining a lower body weight or pharmacologically targeting estrogen or metabolic dysfunction may reduce the risk of breast cancer in this already high-risk population.

[ConservativeMind]

Do note that this “high-fat” diet is really a “high-carb, high-fat” diet.

Reducing weight to an BMI below 25 and/or blocking estrogen was believed to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

[ConservativeMind]

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List
This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

[Secret Agent Man]

Gee but we have media and woketards saying fat womens bodies are healthy.

How dare they go against the narrative. It might actually hurt womens feelings.