Unraveling the Link Between Diabetes and Aggressive Breast Cancer

**Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)** is notably aggressive, and outcomes are dire for patients with obesity-driven diabetes. Recent research led by Boston University researchers demonstrated that *diabetes alters the cancer biology*, urging the need for specialized care for such patients. The study, published in *Molecular Cancer Research*, investigated how **insulin resistance** influences TNBC's aggressiveness, particularly **brain metastasis**, via exosomes from adipocytes. Exosomes carry microRNAs that enhance **tumor cell aggressiveness**, affecting growth, motility, stress resilience, and colonization abilities in brain tissue. Examination of patient data corroborated these findings, indicating diabetes-linked insulin resistance correlates with poorer outcomes. The research team, including Professor Gerald V. Denis, emphasizes that cancer development is intertwined with a patient’s overall health, citing the alarming rise of obesity-driven diabetes affecting over 537 million globally. The findings highlight the importance of addressing metabolic conditions alongside cancer treatments for improved patient outcomes. Funding for this study was sourced from various NIH grants.