Topic > The role of fat cells in the development of ovarian cancer

IntroductionBody fat is made up of fat cells or fat cells. These cells are made up of one or more fatty acids and a glycerol. In the form of triglycerides, fat cells store fat which is then converted into energy and used by the body when needed. Ovarian cancer is cancer of the ovaries, the female reproductive organs that produce eggs. There is no cure for cancer, but the cause of this cancer is also unknown. Although the cause of cancer is unknown, there are many factors that influence the development of ovarian cancer. If a woman gives birth early, her chance of developing ovarian cancer decreases. Women who have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer are at high risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Older women are at greater risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer than younger women. “FABP4 is a member of the family of intracellular lipid-binding proteins that is predominantly expressed in adipose tissue and plays an important role in maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis” (BioMed Central Ltd 2011). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe omentum is made up of fat cells and provides nutrients for the growth of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer cells feed on fat cells and increase rapidly. Cancer cells are attracted to protein signals released by the omentum. During one experiment the attraction was reduced by 50% with the help of inhibitors. Cancer cells feed on the lipids of fat cells, and the entire omentum, an area made up of a large amount of fat cells, is replaced by cancer cells. Fat cells are increasing the growth of cancer cells across the omentum, and researchers believe that an area consisting of a large amount of fat cells may also be food for other tumors such as breast cancer. Fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) can be a treatment and stop the spread of cancer. Primary ovarian tumor tissue, which had spread to the omentum, was compared with tumor cells distant from the fat cells. Cancer cells next to the omentum produced high levels of FABP4, while cancer cells distant from the fat cells did not produce FABP4. Tumor cells fed less on fat cells when FABP4 was reduced. Nutrient transfer from fat cells to tumor cells decreased when FABP4 was retained. The researchers now conclude that FABP4 may be an appropriate treatment and can stop the spread of ovarian cancer through the omentum. The article, “Fat cells in the abdomen fuel the spread of ovarian cancer,” includes many things that are supported by strong evidence. For example, the article describes that “A large pad of fat cells that extends from the stomach and covers the intestine provides nutrients that promote the spread and growth of ovarian cancer” (Science Daily, October 30, 2011). This statement is based on research conducted at the University of Chicago in the journal Nature Medicine. Nature Medicine was published on October 30, 2011, so the information is updated and valid because it is based on research conducted by a group of students. The article also includes: “This adipose tissue, which is extraordinarily rich in energy-dense lipids, serves as a stepping stone and energy source for the likely lethal spread of ovarian cancer” (Science Daily, October 30, 2011). This report was provided by Ernst Lengyel, afterexperienced. The article states: “Researchers performed a series of experiments to identify the role of these fat cells as key mediators of ovarian cancer metastasis” (Science Daily, October 30, 2011). Although it is stated that many experiments have been conducted, there is only one experiment on FABP4, a fatty acid binding protein, mentioned in the article. I wonder what the other experiments were because they weren't revealed in the article. The article explains that ovarian cancer cells injected into the abdomen of healthy mice reach the omentum within 20 minutes (Science Daily, October 30, 2011). According to my research, older women are at greater risk of developing ovarian cancer. If so, then isn't the age of the mice a determining factor in the experiment? The article stated that the mice were healthy, but failed to extinguish the age of the mice. FABP4, a fatty acid binding protein, is mentioned in the article and may be a possible candidate for the treatment of ovarian cancer. In class we learned about two types of proteins and a generic fatty acid. Proteins are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Protein is needed by the body for growth and repair. A regulatory protein uses enzymes to maintain homeostasis while a structural protein maintains structure. Elastin and collagen are two structural proteins. The amount of elastin decreases as you age. Structural proteins are found in skin and bones. Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are “composed with an amino acid group on one side and a carboxyl group on the other” (Kenneth R. Miller and Joseph S. Levine 49). An amino group is made up of two hydrogens bonded to a nitrogen. A carboxyl group is a carbon double bonded to an oxygen molecule and singly bonded to an oxygen, which is also bonded to hydrogen (OH). A peptide bond is the bond between two amino acids. It connects the carbon (C) of the carboxyl group to the nitrogen (N) of the amino group. Two amino acids together are called a dipeptide while three or more bonds between amino acids are called a polypeptide. Amino acids are combined using hydrolysis or the addition of H2O to break down a larger component. Dehydration synthesis, the removal of H2O, is used to separate a dipeptide. A lipid molecule is composed of three fatty acids and a glycerol. There are three types of lipids. If there is only one bond between carbons in fatty acids it is known as saturated lipid. An unsaturated lipid has one double or triple bond between fatty acid carbons, and a polyunsaturated lipid has one or more double or triple bonds between fatty acid carbons. A generic fatty acid is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. A treatment for ovarian cancer, and other cancers that develop in environments where fat cells are abundant, will be a huge benefit to those with ovarian cancer. The treatment could help researchers find a cure for ovarian cancer and lead them to find cures for many other cancers. There is no cure for cancer, but this treatment can give hope to those battling cancer. If treatment with FABP4 is successful for people with ovarian cancer, the number of people, especially women, with ovarian cancer will significantly decrease. This treatment may also help researchers discover the cause of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is cancer of the ovaries, the female reproductive organs that produce eggs. There is no cure for cancer, but the cause of this cancer is also unknown. Although the cause of cancer is unknown, there are many factors that influence the development of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer cells feed on fat cells and.