Food insecurity has been identified as a significant factor influencing tumor growth in pediatric neuroblastoma, one of the most lethal childhood cancers. Despite advancements in treatment, survival rates remain disproportionately lower for children from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. This persistent disparity has been poorly understood at a biological level until now.
Research Explores the Impact of Social Determinants
A team at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, led by Erika Newman, M.D., has developed the first experimental model to investigate how social determinants, such as food insecurity, can affect tumor biology. This research builds on previous findings from the National Institutes of Health that linked poverty to poorer survival rates in pediatric cancers. The study was published in the journal Communications Biology.
The innovative murine cancer model created by Dr. Newman and her team simulated food insecurity by intermittently restricting access to food, reflecting the unpredictable nutrition many families face. By employing established neuroblastoma xenograft models, the researchers aimed to observe the biological responses and tumor growth under these conditions.
Findings Highlight the Severity of Food Insecurity
The results revealed significant differences between the experimental group exposed to food insecurity and the control group. Tumors in the food-insecure group were notably larger and bulkier, with elevated levels of stress hormones such as corticosterone and the activation of pathways that promote tumor survival.
“Our work builds on decades of clinical evidence linking poverty and food insecurity to poorer cancer outcomes,” stated Dr. Newman. “We set out to define the biology behind those disparities, to show how social conditions can become embedded in the body and influence how tumors grow.”
These findings underscore the importance of considering social conditions as integral to understanding cancer biology and treatment efficacy.
Implications for Health Policy and Care Practices
This research lays the groundwork for future studies that could explore how interventions targeting nutrition and stress management might improve treatment responses for pediatric cancer patients. Dr. Newman emphasized the need to bridge the gap between social contexts and cancer biology, stating, “The environments our patients live in—access to food, stability, and safety—are not background conditions. They are part of the biology we must confront if we want equitable outcomes.”
As discussions around federal nutrition programs intensify, particularly with potential interruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Dr. Newman urges for policies that ensure consistent food access for vulnerable children and families. She advocates for systematic screening of social determinants, such as food insecurity and economic strain, within pediatric and oncology practices.
This approach would ensure that medical care addresses both biological and social factors that contribute to disparities in cancer outcomes.
For further insights, refer to the study by Keyonna Williams et al, titled “Food insecurity impacts neuroblastoma pathogenesis in murine xenograft tumor models,” published in Communications Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08678-5.
