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Essay / The role of fat cells in the development of ovarian cancer
IntroductionBody fat is made up of adipose cells, or adipose cells. These cells are made up of one or more fatty acids and a glycerol. In the form of triglycerides, adipose cells store fat, then transformed into energy and used by the body when needed. Ovarian cancer is cancer of the ovaries, the female reproductive organs that reproduce eggs. There is no cure for cancer, but the cause of this cancer also remains unknown. Although the cause of cancer is unknown, many factors affect the development of ovarian cancer. If a woman gives birth early in life, it reduces her chances of developing ovarian cancer. Women whose family has a 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 people. “FABP4 is a member of the intracellular lipid-binding protein family 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 Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The omentum is made up of fat cells and provides nutrients necessary for the growth of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer cells feed on fat cells and grow rapidly. Tumor cells are attracted to protein signals released by the omentum. In one experiment, attraction was reduced by 50% using inhibitors. The cancer cells feed on the lipids of the fat cells and the entire omentum, an area made up of a large amount of fat cells, is replaced by cancer cells. Fat cells increase the growth of cancer cells throughout the omentum and researchers believe that an area made up of a large amount of fat cells may also serve as food for other cancers such as breast cancer. Fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) may be a treatment and stop the spread of cancer. Primary ovarian cancer tissues, which had spread to the omentum, were compared to cancer cells distant from fat cells. Cancer cells located next to the omentum produced high levels of FABP4, while cancer cells located away from fat cells did not produce FABP4. Cancer cells fed less on fat cells when FABP4 was reduced. Nutrient transfer from fat cells to cancer cells decreased when FABP4 was restricted. Researchers now conclude that FABP4 may be an appropriate treatment and can stop the spread of ovarian cancer through the omentum. The article “Abdominal Fat Cells Fuel the Spread of Ovarian Cancer” includes many elements supported by clear evidence. For example, the article describes that "a large pad of fat cells that extends from the stomach and lines the intestines provides nutrients that promote the spread and growth of ovarian cancer" (Science Daily, 30 October 2011). This statement is based on research done at the University of Chicago in the journal Nature Medicine. Nature Medicine was published on October 30, 2011, so the information is current and valid because it is based on research done by a group of students. The article also includes: “This adipose tissue, which is extraordinarilyrich in energy-dense lipids, acts as a launching pad and energy source for the potentially fatal spread of ovarian cancer” (Science Daily, October 30, 2011). This report was produced by Ernst Lengyel, after experimentation. The article states: "Researchers performed a series of experiments to identify the role of these fat cells as major mediators of ovarian cancer metastasis" (Science Daily, October 30, 2011). Although it is stated that many experiments took place, only one experiment involving FABP4, a fatty acid binding protein, is mentioned in the article. I wonder what the other experiences were as they were not revealed in the article. In the article, he explains that ovarian cancer cells injected into the abdomen of healthy mice reach the omentum within 20 minutes (Science Daily, October 30, 2011). Based on my research, older women are at higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. If so, isn't the age of the mice a 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 could 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. Proteins are necessary for the body to grow 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 with age. Structural proteins are found in skin and bones. Proteins are made of amino acids, which are “compounds with an amino acid group on one end and a carboxyl group on the other end” (Kenneth R. Miller and Joseph S. Levine 49). An amino group consists of two hydrogens bonded to a nitrogen. A carboxyl group is a carbon doubly 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 joined together are called a dipeptide, while three or more bonds between amino acids are called a polypeptide. Amino acids are combined by hydrolysis or by adding 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 one glycerol. There are three types of lipids. If there is only one bond between the carbons of the fatty acids, it is called a saturated lipid. An unsaturated lipid has one or more double or triple bonds between the carbons of the fatty acids and a polyunsaturated lipid has one or more double or triple bonds between the carbons of the fatty acids. A generic fatty acid is composed of carbons, hydrogen and oxygen. Treatment for ovarian cancer and other cancers that develop in environments where fat cells are abundant will be of enormous benefit to people with ovarian cancer. The treatment could help researchers find a cure for ovarian cancer and lead them to find the cure for many other cancers. There is no cure for cancer, but this treatment can give hope to those battling cancer. If treatment using FABP4 is successful in people with ovarian cancer, the number of people, especially.