Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have developed a revolutionary cancer treatment that utilizes genetically modified fat cells to starve tumors. This novel approach involves transforming white fat cells, which store energy, into "beige" fat cells that aggressively burn calories to produce heat. These modified cells, when implanted near tumors, consume the same nutrients that cancer cells rely on, effectively starving the tumors and leading to their demise.
The inspiration for this technique comes from liposuction and cosmetic surgery, where fat cells are extracted and reintroduced into targeted locations. The UCSF team employed CRISPR gene-editing technology to activate dormant genes in white fat cells, converting them into beige fat cells. These modified cells, named UCP1, were tested alongside cancer cells in a controlled lab setting, with both cell types sharing a single nutrient source. The results were astonishing -- most cancer cells died off, leading the team to repeat the experiment multiple times to confirm their findings.
Laboratory tests demonstrated that beige fat cells successfully eliminated several cancer types, including two forms of breast cancer, as well as colon, pancreatic, and prostate cancer cells. However, researchers were uncertain whether the same results could be achieved in a more realistic biological environment. To test this, they developed fat organoids -- compact clusters of engineered fat cells -- designed to be implanted inside live test subjects. When implanted in mice, the engineered fat successfully starved tumors, leading to the elimination of breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer cells.
The researchers believe that this approach could be particularly valuable for treating aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers, including certain brain tumors. "The potential applications of fat cells in therapy are limitless," concluded Nadav Ahituv, professor of bioengineering at UCSF and director of the university's Institute for Human Genetics.