Chronic Inflammation Driven by Diet May Contribute to Colorectal Cancer, Study Finds

Researchers may have discovered the potential link between ultra-processed foods and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to findings published in Gut. They found that chronic inflammation caused by diet primarily consisting of ultra-processed foods, a Western diet, encourages tumor growth.¹

Depiction of colorectal cancer tumor growth Image Credit: © Dr_Microbe - stock.adobe.com

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 152,810 individuals will be diagnosed in 2024, and it is the second-leading cause of all cancer-related deaths in the United States. CRC rates have risen significantly since the 1990s, and it has since become the first leading cause of mortality amongst individuals younger than 50 years. Studies suggest various reasons for this such as exposure to microplastics, which are commonly found in plastic bottles.^2,3

“We know cancer has increased 13% in the last 10 years in people under 50, probably the biggest consumers of bottled water,” said Andrew Wong, MD, primary care provider for the Hartford HealthCare Medical Group in Westport, Connecticut, in an article by Hartford Healthcare. “We also know the risk of colon cancer is 2 to 4 times higher in people born after 1990.”³

The topic of ultra-processed foods has gained significant attention as rates of chronic disease, obesity, and cancer rise. Ultra-processed foods are considered any food that is altered from its natural state, which is done through adding salt, oil, sugar, and artificial colors or preservatives. Some examples include deli meats, mass-produced bread, packaged snacks, cereal, many frozen products, and premade soups. High consumption of these foods can cause inflammation, a known cause for a wide range of health complications.⁴

“It is well known that patients with unhealthy diets have increased inflammation in their bodies,” said Timothy Yeatman, MD, physician-scientist and professor of surgery in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and associate center director for Translational Research and Innovation at the TGH Cancer Institute, in a press release. “We now see this inflammation in the colon tumors themselves, and cancer is like a chronic wound that won’t heal – if your body is living off of daily ultra-processed foods, its ability to heal that wound decreases due to the inflammation and suppression of the immune system that ultimately allows the cancer to grow.”⁵

In the study, the investigators aimed to determine whether lipid dysregulation in CRCs is caused by a failure to resolve inflammation using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Their assessment included an untargeted analysis of 40 human CRC and normal paired samples and targeted, and a quantitative analysis of 81 human CRC and normal paired samples. To identify the production and modification of lipid mediators within cells, they performed an analysis of lipidomics, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, large scale gene expression, and spatial transcriptomics with public scRNASEQ data.¹

According to the data, there was a marked imbalance of pro-inflammatory mediators, with a shortage of resolving lipid mediators, which was observed through targeted, quantitative LC–MS/MS. In tumors, the investigators reported a significant over-expression of arachidonic acid derivatives, but poor expression of genes that produce pro-resolving synthetic enzymes, resulting in a scarcity of lipoxins (LXA4, LXB4) and their associated receptors. These study results suggest that CRC is a result of defective lipid class switching, which may be related to inadequate or ineffective levels of the arachidonic acid derivatives PGE2/PGD2.¹

“A human’s immune system can be extremely powerful and drastically impact the tumor microenvironment, which is great if harnessed correctly for health and wellness. But not if it’s suppressed by inflammatory lipids from processed foods,” explained Yeatman.¹

Prevention is an essential component of comprehensive cancer care, especially as rates continue to rise. Implementing a balanced and unprocessed diet rich in fresh produce, fish, and pasture-raised meats, is crucial for preventing the development of CRC and managing overall health.

“This has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment, moving beyond drugs to harness natural healing processes. It’s a vital step toward addressing chronic inflammation and preventing diseases before they start.”¹

REFERENCES

1. Soundararajan R, Maurin M, Rodrigues-Silva J, et al. Integration of lipidomics with targeted, single cell, and spatial transcriptomics defines an unresolved pro-inflammatory state in colon cancer. Gut. December 10, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-332535

2. ACS releases colorectal cancer estimates for 2024. Colorectal Cancer Alliance. January 23, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://colorectalcancer.org/article/acs-releases-colorectal-cancer-estimates-2024

3. If you drink out of plastic water bottles, don’t make this mistake. Hartford Healthcare. February 9, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://hartfordhealthcare.org/about-us/news-press/news-detail?articleId=53676&publicid=395

4. What are ultra-processed foods and are they bad for our health. Harvard Health Publishing. January 9, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-are-ultra-processed-foods-and-are-they-bad-for-our-health-2020010918605

5. Ultra-processed foods may drive colorectal cancer risk, USF-TGH study finds. News Release. December 10, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1067121