Scientists at the University of California have made a breakthrough in oncology by turning ordinary white fat into so-called “beige” fat—a special type of fat cell that actively consumes nutrients. When implanted in the body, these cells deprive cancerous tumors of vital resources and suppress their growth.
Their effectiveness has been demonstrated against five types of cancer, including breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer. Moreover, the fat cells affect not only nearby tumors but also tumors in distant parts of the body.
A key advantage of the new technology is its simplicity and safety. Unlike complex immunotherapy methods, this approach uses the patient’s own fat cells, reducing the risk of rejection and side effects. The technique may also find applications in treating other conditions, such as diabetes and excess iron in the blood.
