Abstract 2028: Hyperlipidemia drives tumor growth in a mouse model of obesity-accelerated breast cancer growth.

Abstract Obesity is an established risk factor for breast cancer (BC), yet the specific mechanisms driving this association remain unclear. Dysregulated lipid metabolism has emerged as a key factor in cancer cell biology, and, while obesity is often accompanied by hyperlipidemia, the isolated impact of elevated lipid levels on BC growth has not been experimentally tested. Using the E0771 and Py230 orthotopic models of obesity-accelerated BC growth in immune-competent mice, we investigated the role of systemic lipids on tumor growth. Combining dietary and genetic mouse models, we show that elevated circulating lipids are sufficient to accelerate BC tumor growth even in the absence of obesity or alterations in blood glucose and/or insulin levels. Pharmacological lowering of systemic lipid levels attenuates BC growth in obese mice, suggesting a direct role for lipids in fueling tumor expansion. Notably, we also show that weight loss alone, without a corresponding reduction in lipid levels such as that induced by a ketogenic diet, fails to protect against BC, highlighting the necessity of targeting lipid metabolism in obesity-associated BC. Our findings establish hyperlipidemia as a critical driver of BC progression and suggest that lipid-lowering interventions may be a promising strategy to mitigate BC risk in individuals with obesity. Citation Format: Renan Fudoli Lins Vieira, Sawyer Sanchez, Menusha Arumugan, Peyton Mower, Meghan Curtin, Abigail Jackson, Jillian Wright, Alexis Bowles, Gregory S. Ducker, Keren Hilgendorf, Amandine Chaix. Hyperlipidemia drives tumor growth in a mouse model of obesity-accelerated breast cancer growth [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2028.