Eugene Houchins III is an Atlanta entrepreneur who leads American Life Fund Corp. and delivers solutions in the viatical settlement sphere that provide ready funds to insured people with serious illnesses. Committed to improving health care, Eugene Houchins III and his team contribute to cancer research and fundraise on behalf of cancer organizations. As published in Nature, scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) Barcelona have discovered links between fatty acids and alterations in the cancer genome that make tumor spread more likely. The study centered on palmitic acid from palm oil and the way that it promotes metastasis in melanoma skin cancer and oral carcinomas. This contrasts with linoleic acid and oleic acid, which are omega-6 and omega-9 fats sourced from ingredients such as flaxseeds and olive oil. These have no such effect and do not elevate overall cancer risks. The researchers found that supplementing palmitic acid in mice’s diet contributed to metastasis, as well as long term alterations in the genome. In particular, cancer cells exposed to dietary palmitic acid for even a short time retained their highly metastatic quality long after the fatty oil was removed from the diet. This relates to epigenetic changes and cellular “memory,” as metastatic cancer cells create a neural network that surrounds the tumor and enables cancer to more easily spread. Understanding this communication pathway open ways for researchers to potentially block the progress of tumors. It also suggests dietary modifications that may be effective in reducing the risk of aggressive cancer.

1. Palmitic Acid Consumption Linked to Gene Change
and Cancer Spread
Eugene E Houchins III

2. Introduction
Eugene Houchins III is an Atlanta entrepreneur who leads American Life Fund Corp. and
delivers solutions in the viatical settlement sphere that provide ready funds to insured
people with serious illnesses. Committed to improving health care, Eugene Houchins III
and his team contribute to cancer research and fundraise on behalf of cancer
organizations.

3. As published in Nature, scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB)
Barcelona have discovered links between fatty acids and alterations in the cancer
genome that make tumor spread more likely. The study centered on palmitic acid from
palm oil and the way that it promotes metastasis in melanoma skin cancer and oral
carcinomas.

4. This contrasts with linoleic acid and oleic acid, which are omega-6 and omega-9 fats
sourced from ingredients such as flaxseeds and olive oil. These have no such effect
and do not elevate overall cancer risks.

5. The researchers found that supplementing palmitic acid in mice’s diet contributed to
metastasis, as well as long term alterations in the genome. In particular, cancer cells
exposed to dietary palmitic acid for even a short time retained their highly metastatic
quality long after the fatty oil was removed from the diet. This relates to epigenetic
changes and cellular “memory,” as metastatic cancer cells create a neural network that
surrounds the tumor and enables cancer to more easily spread.

6. Understanding this communication pathway open ways for researchers to potentially
block the progress of tumors. It also suggests dietary modifications that may be
effective in reducing the risk of aggressive cancer.