• April 26, 2024

The stress can be a risk factor for developing breast cancer for women, because it works as a switch for genes associated with the spread of cancer cells or metastasis , according to an investigation of the Ohio State University, United States .

According to the research published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation , the activation of a gene related to the condition of stress , called AFT3, could help the spread of breast cancer between the cells of the immune system and to other parts of the body, so it underlies as a cause of metastasis.

Cells vs. cells

The Dr. Tsonwin Hai, lead author of the study, and professor of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry at the University , explains that one of the biggest results of the research is that they have identified how cancer cells use the rest to spread to other parts of the body.

In particular, this gene encourages immune system cells to produce cancer-causing errors as a result. In addition, according to the researcher, it alters the mechanics of action of the antibodies that, in a state of stress , could help prevent cell damage, however the result would be the opposite.

After analyzing the expression of the ATF3 gene in the cells of the immune system of nearly 300 patients with breast cancer, they determined that said gene "could be a crucial link between the stress and the tumor, as well as in the metastasis , which is the main cause of death from this type of cancer, explains the specialist.

Other risk factors

Previous studies show that, in addition to the role of stress chronic as a risk factor to develop breast cancer , the combination of various conditions such as obesity and psychological disorders, could reveal new more aggressive forms of tumors.

Likewise, these factors include a greater development of melanoma due to a high-fat diet, the increase in breast tumor size in transgenic mice with symptoms of diabetes, and the increase in metastases of mammary carcinoma.

Therefore, it is important to recognize all possible alterations that these conditions detonate in myeloid cells, in the case of breast cancer specifically.

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