Cancer Cells Induce Phenotypic Changes in Adipocytes
Revealing Correlation Between Cancer Prognosis and Obesity
Published Online in Nature Journal
Yonsei University announced on the 28th that the research team led by Professor Hanwoong Lee of Yonsei University's Department of Biochemistry has uncovered the mechanism by which obesity cells promote cancer growth.
Professor Lee's research team focused on the fact that cancers occurring in organs with abundant adipose tissue, such as colorectal cancer and breast cancer, are common.
The study confirmed that cancer cells induce the transformation of adjacent fat cells, and these transformed fat cells transmit signaling molecules that aid cancer growth.
Professor Hanwoong Lee of Yonsei University (left in photo), Yechan Song, PhD candidate (center in photo), Heeju Na, PhD candidate (right in photo) [Image source=Yonsei University]
In particular, the research team identified a specific signal mediating the transformation of fat cells through models of fat and cancer cells. This signal was excessively activated in experimental mice induced to obesity by a high-fat diet compared to normal fat cells. The team confirmed that drugs inhibiting this signal showed excellent anticancer effects on obese tumors.
Yonsei University stated, "This study elucidates the signaling system between cancer cells and fat cells," and evaluated that "it is significant in explaining the correlation between cancer prognosis and obesity through the transformation of fat cells."
The research results were published online in 'Nature Communications,' the most prestigious journal in the natural sciences field.
Professor Hanwoong Lee of Yonsei University said, "There is a need for rapid introduction of treatments targeting obese patients," adding, "The health of fat cells will be a more precise indicator determining cancer cell growth than simply the presence or absence of obesity."
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