Trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), a fatty acid found in meat and dairy products from grazing animals, has been found to improve the ability of CD8+ T cells to infiltrate tumors and kill cancer cells. This discovery suggests that TVA could be used as a nutritional supplement to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments. The researchers also found that patients with higher levels of TVA in their blood responded better to immunotherapy. The study highlights the importance of focusing on nutrients and metabolites derived from food, rather than the wide variety of foods people eat, in understanding how diet influences health. The researchers hope to further investigate the impact of other nutrients on immunity and biological processes.
https://biologicalsciences.uchicago.edu/news/tva-nutrient-cancer-immunity