News Health & Medicine Linking obesity with leukemia relapses Fat may offer sanctuary for cancerous cells, a study in mice shows By Nathan Seppa September 22, 2009 at 2:36 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print In leukemia patients, excess fatty tissue allows cancerous cells to avoid destruction by chemotherapy drugs, a study in mice suggests. BLENDING IN This image shows fat cells (in red) from an obese mouse with leukemia.