Mind & Matter
Whether food, drugs or ideas, what you consume influences who you become. Learn directly from the best scientists & thinkers alive today about how your mind-body reacts to what you feed it.
The weekly M&M podcast features conversations with the most interesting scientists, thinkers, and technology entrepreneurs alive today.
Not medical advice.
At M&M, we are interested in trying to figure out how things work, not affirming our existing beliefs. We prefer consulting primary rather than secondary sources and independent rather than institutional voices. If we encounter uncomfortable truths or the evidence suggests unfashionable ideas may be valid, so be it.
As the host, my aim is to help you better understand how the body & mind work by curating & synthesizing information in a way that yields science-based insights that you can choose to use or disregard in your own life. Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.
I am motivated to connect the dots and distill general principles from what I learn, preferring to ask questions and play devil’s advocate to debating or incessantly pushing my own viewpoint.
My beliefs:
- Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.
- All knowledge is provisional and we must work hard to prevent ourselves from becoming attached to our favorite ideas & preferred conclusions.
- Wisdom comes from an iterative, trial-and-error process of learning and unlearning. Letting go of pre-conceived notions can be painful, but pain is information.
Sometimes modern discoveries teach us we must unlearn received wisdom. Other times, modern information overload & historical chauvinism cause us to forget ancient wisdom which stills applies. The framework for learning that I embody is inspired by three Ancient Greek maxims inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi:
- “Γνῶθι σεαυτόν” (Know thyself)
- “Μηδὲν ἄγαν” (Nothing in excess)
- “Ἐγγύα πάρα δ Ἄτα” (Certainty brings insanity)
Mind & Matter
Linoleic Acid, Seed Oils, mTOR & Breast Cancer | Nikos Koundouros & John Blenis | 229
Episode Summary: New research on how dietary fats, particularly omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid, influence triple-negative breast cancer progression by activating the mTOR pathway, a key regulator of cell growth; role of the FABP5 protein in enhancing cancer cells’ sensitivity to omega-6 fats; differences between breast cancer subtypes; broader implications of dietary balance for health.
About the guest: John Blenis, PhD is a Professor of Pharmacology at the Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine. Nikos Koundouros, PhD is a postdoctoral fellow in Blenis’ lab.
Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Transcript and other information on Substack.
Key Points:
- mTOR pathway acts as a cellular “brain,” sensing nutrients like amino acids, glucose, and fats to regulate growth. Its dysregulation can drive cancer.
- High dietary omega-6 fatty acids, like linoleic acid found in seed oils, can fuel triple-negative breast cancer growth by activating mTOR.
- FABP5, a lipid chaperone protein, is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer, making these tumors more sensitive to omega-6 fats, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.
- Modern diets with high omega-6 to omega-3 ratios disrupt inflammation balance, unlike historical 1:1 ratios, potentially increasing cancer risk.
- Genetic variations and cancer subtypes highlight the need for tailored dietary recommendations, as blanket nutrition advice may not suit all patients.
- While omega-6 fats exacerbate existing triple-negative breast cancer, their role in initiating cancer remains unclear, requiring further study.
- High omega-6 intake may influence other cancers (e.g., prostate, colon) and chronic diseases like obesity, linked to FABP5 and inflammation.
Related episode:
- M&M 200: Dietary Fats & Seed Oils in Inflammation, Colon Cancer & Chronic Disease | Tim Yeatman & Ganesh Halade
*Not medical advice.
All episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack
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