Mind & Matter

Linoleic Acid, Seed Oils, mTOR & Breast Cancer | Nikos Koundouros & John Blenis | 229

18 snips
May 15, 2025
Nikos Koundouros, a postdoctoral fellow at Weill Cornell Medicine, joins John Blenis, a prominent pharmacology professor, to unravel how omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid may drive triple-negative breast cancer by activating the mTOR pathway. They discuss the critical role of the FABP5 protein, uniquely enhancing cancer cell sensitivity to these fats. The conversation reveals alarming shifts in modern diets, emphasizing the need for tailored nutrition approaches based on genetic variations and cancer subtypes to improve health outcomes.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

mTOR is the Cell's Brain

  • mTOR acts as the brain of the cell, sensing nutrients and regulating growth.
  • Dysregulated mTOR leads to uncontrolled anabolism contributing to cancer development.
INSIGHT

Cancer Boosts Nutrient Uptake

  • Cancer cells enhance nutrient uptake by increasing transporter expression to fuel growth.
  • Genetic mutations can amplify mTOR signaling to sustain growth even under low nutrient conditions.
INSIGHT

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Explained

  • Triple-negative breast cancers lack estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors.
  • They are more aggressive and lack targeted therapies, making treatment challenging.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app