The Surprising Link Between Diet and Lung Cancer

Sugar's Sinister Role in Tumor Growth

We know smoking causes lung cancer, excessive drinking harms the liver, and poor diets increase the risk of various cancers. But now, researchers have uncovered a less obvious culprit in lung cancer development: your diet. A study from the University of Florida Health, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center and the UF Health Cancer Center, has, for the first time, categorized lung cancer as a diet-related disease. Published in Nature Metabolism, these groundbreaking findings emphasize the profound impact of our food choices on our health.

Many tempting treats harbor ingredients linked to cancer, including red meats, alcohol, saturated fats, ultra-processed foods, and sugary drinks. One major offender is sugar. Consumed in excess, it's stored as glycogen, which researchers have already linked to the growth of various cancers.

A typical Western diet, laden with processed foods and sugars, can boost glycogen levels, effectively providing fuel for tumor growth. Just like healthy cells, cancer cells need energy, and glycogen offers a readily available source to power their uncontrolled proliferation.

Glycogen: Fueling the Fire Within

The connection between diet and lung cancer emerged through a high-tech analysis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) samples—the most prevalent type of lung cancer. This analysis revealed a concerning correlation: higher glycogen accumulation, poorer outcomes.

Using a cutting-edge spatial metabolomics platform, the research team delved deeper. This technology, developed by study lead Ramon Sun, allows for rapid, large-scale analysis while preserving crucial spatial context within biological samples.

"This platform offered a new lens through which to visualize diseases," explained Sun in a press release, "enabling researchers to discern previously undiscovered molecular patterns and interactions with striking detail and depth of insight.”

Experiments on mice further solidified the link between glycogen and lung cancer progression. Dietary interventions and genetic modifications targeting glycogen synthase, the enzyme that converts glucose into glycogen, confirmed that higher glycogen levels fueled larger, more aggressive tumors. Mice fed a Western diet developed larger lung tumors, while reducing glycogen curbed tumor growth.

According to Sun, glycogen serves as an “exceptionally good predictor” of tumor growth and mortality in lung cancer patients.

Rethinking Cancer Prevention: A Call for Dietary Change

This study reinforces the critical importance of a balanced diet, regular exercise, and moderate alcohol consumption for long-term health. It's not just about preventing other cancers; it's about preventing lung cancer too.

"In the long term, our approach to cancer prevention should mirror the success of the anti-smoking campaign," Sun urged, advocating for "placing greater emphasis on public awareness and policy-driven strategies that promote healthier dietary choices as a fundamental component of disease prevention.”

Hope on the Horizon: Targeting Glycogen

The exciting news is that we already have tools to regulate glycogen. Medications like metformin, commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, offer a potential avenue for new cancer treatment strategies that incorporate glycogen-targeting therapies.