The New Zealand Breast Cancer foundation says a young Kiwi researcher has revealed a link between fatty tissue and breast cancer that could have a worldwide impact, reports Stuff.co.nz.
Hannah Palmer, 22, has found how a protein in fatty tissue can make breast tumour cells more invasive, which leads to increased metastasis (the spread of cancer beyond the breast).
The study found proteins concealed by fatty tissue promote migration of breast cancer cells, resulting in obesity or excess fatty tissue increasing incidence of cancer occurring.
