A research team at the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has discovered that certain dietary fatty acids can supercharge the human immune system’s ability to fight cancer. The team found that a healthy fatty acid found in olive oil and nuts, called oleic acid (OA), enhances the power of immune ??-T cells, specialized cells known for their cancer-fighting properties.
Conversely, they found that another fatty acid, called palmitic acid (PA), commonly found in palm oil and fatty meats, diminishes the ability of these immune cells to attack tumors.
Their study, published in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, offers an innovative approach using dietary OA supplementation to strengthen the antitumor immunity of ??-T cells.
Dietary fatty acids and cancer immunotherapy
Dietary fatty acids are essential for health, helping with growth and body functions. They may also play a role in cancer prevention and treatment, but understanding how they affect cancer is challenging because of the complexity of people’s diets and the lack of detailed studies.
Recently, scientists have learned that fatty acids can influence the immune system, especially in how it fights cancer. Specialized immune cells, called ??-T cells, are particularly good at attacking tumors. These cells, once activated, have helped some lung and liver cancer patients live longer.
However, this therapy is not effective for all patients, partly because the variation of metabolic status, such as fatty acid metabolism, can influence its efficacy in the patients.
Oleic acid may improve cancer treatment outcomes
The research team identified a correlation between PA and OA levels and the efficacy of cancer therapies. “Our research suggests that dietary fatty acid supplementation, particularly with foods rich in OA, such as olive oil and avocados, could enhance ??-T cell immunosurveillance, leading to more effective cancer treatments,” said Professor Tu Wenwei from the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed, who led the study.
The team also discovered that another fatty acid, called PA, can weaken these immune cells and how OA can counteract this.
“The results indicate that cancer patients should avoid PA and consider OA supplementation in their diets to improve clinical outcomes of ??-T cell-based cancer therapies,” added Professor Tu.
Significant impact from simple dietary changes
Professor Tu said, “This study is the first to show that the fatty acids we eat can directly affect how well our immune cells fight cancer.” It reveals how PA can harm these cells and how OA helps them through a specific process involving a protein called IFN?. By analyzing blood samples, the researchers confirmed that the levels of these fatty acids are linked to the outcome of cancer immunotherapy.
“For cancer patients, this discovery suggests simple changes, like eating more foods rich in OA (such as olive oil, avocados and nuts) and cutting back on PA (found in processed foods, palm oil and fatty meats), could improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments. The study also points to novel strategies, like combining dietary changes with specific drugs to further boost the immune system,” added Professor Tu.
This study demonstrates that personalized nutrition may serve as an effective strategy to enhance immune function and support cancer treatment. It also suggests that new drugs targeting the processes affected by these fatty acids could enhance the power of ??-T cell therapies.
By integrating nutritional interventions with immunotherapy, this discovery could help more cancer patients achieve better outcomes.
More information:
Yanmei Zhang et al, Oleic acid restores the impaired antitumor immunity of ??-T cells induced by palmitic acid, Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41392-025-02295-8
The content is provided for information purposes only.