A study by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that high cholesterol aids the spread of cancer.
- Excess cholesterol makes the nuclear membrane – the outer layer of the nucleus – soft and weak.
- This lets cancer cells squeeze through tissues and spread to other parts of the body.
- It also causes DNA damage, leading to more mutations and more severe cancer.
- The LBR (Lamin B Receptor) protein raises cholesterol levels inside the nucleus of cancer cells.
- Lowering cholesterol or targeting LBR could help slow cancer spread.