Blood Cancer and Obesity are Linked, According to the Researchers

Obesity was strongly linked to clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), a blood condition that may increase the risk of blood cancer, according to researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine. The Journal of Clinical Investigation recently published their findings.

Blood cells with CHIP accumulate genetic mutations, raising the likelihood of developing blood cancer. Despite the fact that CHIP is prevalent in older people, the risk factors that contribute to the condition are poorly understood. “Our study’s results showed being overweight or obese may be a risk factor for CHIP because obesity causes inflammation in the body and changes the bone marrow where blood cells are made. This increases a person’s risk for blood cancer and cardiovascular disease,” said lead author of the published study Santhosh Pasupuleti, Ph.D., assistant research professor of pediatrics at the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research and a researcher at the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The significance of our findings offers potential new avenues for treatment in individuals with CHIP and obesity.”

The specialists examined information from in excess of 47,000 people with CHIP and found 5.8 percent of the populace was related with a critical expansion in midsection to-hip proportion. Also, mice models with heftiness and CHIP utilized in the review were seen to have changed platelets develop all the more rapidly. As a result, their research strongly supports the idea that controlling one’s level of systemic inflammation and maintaining a healthy weight may reduce the risk of developing blood cancer as one gets older.

“Our current and future studies are focused on identifying therapeutic strategies to mitigate the expansion and rapid growth of CHIP-bearing mutated blood cells,” said Reuben Kapur, Ph.D., director of the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, co-program leader of Hematopoiesis and Hematologic Malignancies at the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and co-author of the study. “Surprisingly, our initial findings suggest that common medications used for treating blood pressure and diabetes may play a role in regulating the growth of mutated blood cells. Additional future studies will focus on examining individuals who are on these types of medications and their long-term risks of developing blood cancer.”

The researchers also tried different drug combinations to target CHIP mutant cells and find potential treatments for the condition as part of their research. In general, the findings of the study suggest that gaining a deeper comprehension of the connection that exists between CHIP and obesity may aid in the identification of individuals who are at risk of developing diseases like leukemia and the development of strategies for upcoming treatments.