High-Fat, High-Calorie Diet Linked to Pancreatic Cancer

Researchers have found a link between cancer of the pancreas, one of the most deadly forms of cancer, and eating a high-fat, high-calorie diet. Dr. Guido Eibl, a member of the Jonsson Cancer Center and a professor in the department of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and colleagues investigated the effects of diet-induced obesity on mice that have the same genetic mutation as that found in humans with the disease. Results showed that mice fed a diet high in fats and calories gained significantly more weight, had metabolic abnormalities, elevated insulin levels, displayed significant pancreas tissue inflammation, and developed pancreas intraepithelial neoplasias – known precursors to cancer. "The development of these lesions in mice is very similar to what happens in humans," said Professor Eibl. "These lesions take a long time to develop into cancer, so there is enough time for cancer-preventive strategies, such as changing to a lower-fat, lower-calorie diet, to have a positive effect."