Visceral and subcutaneous adipose stem cells modulate colorectal cancer cell progression: direct and indirect contact distinctly accelerate tumor aggressiveness.

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)

Background Adipose tissue is increasingly recognized as an important component of the tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC) and actively contributes to the progression of the disease. Adipose stem cells (ASCs), one of its key constituents, can interact with cancer cells and contribute to tumorigenic processes. However, there is a poor understanding of the underlying basis of ASC-mediated support in the progression of CRC. Methodology In this study, we employed direct and indirect co-culture models to investigate interactions between ASCs and colorectal cancer cells. The study was performed using human visceral ASCs (V-ASCs) and subcutaneous ASCs (S-ASCs), along with three colorectal cancer cell lines. The analyses primarily focused on the characteristics of CRC cell progression in 2D and 3D conditions. Cell proliferation and migration after indirect co-culture were assessed using video microscopy, XTT assay, wound healing, and spontaneous migration assay. Corresponding measurements for direct co-culture were performed using high-throughput confocal microscopy. Changes in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) such as the phenotype and stemness features were evaluated by confocal microscopy imaging, while gene and protein expression were analyzed using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Additional analyses were conducted using cells cultured in spheroid models with b

Evidence level

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

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