Western Diet Linked to Chronic Inflammation & Cancer

Colorectal cancer, the second biggest cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, could be fueled by the food we eat. Researchers at the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute have discovered a possible relationship between the Western diet, which is high in ultra-processed foods and harmful oils, and the chronic inflammation that promotes tumor growth.

The researchers have already achieved significant advances in their understanding of colorectal cancer thanks to a five-year, $3.1 million funding from the National Institutes of Health. The project’s initial study investigates how processed foods are likely to impede the body’s natural healing processes. Their findings will be published online in Gut, a major worldwide publication in gastroenterology and hepatology

“It is well known that patients with unhealthy diets have increased inflammation in their bodies,” said Dr. Timothy Yeatman, a renowned 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. “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.”

According to Yeatman, the findings highlight the critical need to reconsider the components of the Western diet, which is often high in added sugars, saturated fats, ultra-processed foods, chemicals, and inflammatory seed oils. In earlier investigations, the USF Health Heart Institute discovered that an imbalanced diet not only affects colorectal cancer, but also plays a role in other diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Our bodies are designed to actively resolve inflammation through bioactive lipid compounds derived from the healthy fats, like avocados, that we consume. Bioactive lipids are very small molecules derived from the foods that we eat and, if the molecules are coming from processed food products, they directly imbalance the immune system and drive chronic inflammation.”

Ganesh Halade, associate professor in the USF Health Heart Institute and member of the Cancer Biology Program at TGH Cancer Institute

While the molecules are difficult to detect, Halade employed a very sensitive analytical technique to discover small levels of lipids in 162 tumor samples collected from patients at Tampa General Hospital. The tumors were frozen within 30 minutes of removal and delivered to his lab via the USF and TGH Cancer Institute Biobank, in partnership with USF Health Colorectal Surgery and TGH Cancer Institute’s Gastrointestinal Oncology Program.

Inside the tumors, the scientists discovered an excess of chemicals that promote inflammation and a scarcity of those that help resolve it and promote recovery. These findings pave the path for a new, natural approach to colon cancer treatment called resolution medicine, which focuses on restoring balance in the patient’s diet to improve outcomes.

“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,” Yeatman said. “But not if it’s suppressed by inflammatory lipids from processed foods.”

Resolution medicine would focus on correcting inflammation by consuming nutritious, unprocessed meals rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil derivatives known as “specialized pro-resolving mediators,” as well as getting enough sleep and exercise.

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

Early experiments using specific versions of fish oil have showed promise in treating inflammation at its source. The trials are still underway at TGH Cancer Institute, and the team will continue to investigate resolution therapy and its impact on patient care and disease prevention.

For more information: University of South Florida