Multi‑faceted role of cancer‑associated adipocytes in the tumor microenvironment (Review)

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Adipocytes are a type of stromal cell found in numerous different tissues that serve an active role in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer‑associated adipocytes (CAAs) display a malignant phenotype and are found at the invasive tumor front, which mediates the crosstalk network between adipocytes (the precursor cells that will become cancer‑associated adipocytes in the future) and cancer cells. The present review covers the mechanisms of adipocytes in the development of cancer, including metabolic reprogramming, chemotherapy resistance and adipokine regulation. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms involved in the adipocyte‑cancer cell cycle in various types of cancer, including breast, ovarian, colon and rectal cancer, are discussed. Deciphering the complex network of CAA‑cancer cell crosstalk will provide insights into tumor biology and optimize therapeutic strategies.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.