Fat Wasting Is Damaging: Role of Adipose Tissue in Cancer-Associated Cachexia.

Xiaoting Sun,Kaihong Chen,Xiaogang Feng,Xiaojing Wu,Yongtian Lu,Ying Ye

doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.00033

Abstract

Loss of body weight, especially loss of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle weight, characterizes cancer-associated cachexia (CAC). Clinically, therapeutic options for CAC are limited due to the complicated signaling between cancer and other organs. Recent research advances show that adipose tissues play a critical role during thermogenesis, glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism. Understanding the adipocyte lipolysis, the formation of beige adipocytes, and the activation of brown adipocytes is vital for novel therapies for metabolic syndromes like CAC. The system-level crosstalk between adipose tissue and other organs involves adipocyte lipolysis, white adipose tissue browning, and secreted factors and metabolites. Novel CAC animal models and accumulating molecular signaling knowledge have provided mechanisms that may ultimately be translated into future therapeutic possibilities that benefit CAC patients. This mini review discusses the role of adipose tissue in CAC development, mechanism, and therapy.

Highlights

Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) has a unique tumor-driven pattern that can lead to progressive functional impairment, treatment-related complications, poor quality of life, and mortality
We focus on the role of adipose tissue dysfunction in CAC and review the molecular mechanism that underlies it
By neutralizing the browning stimulator parathyroid hormonerelated protein (PTHrP), CAC is ameliorated and fat loss is rescued in animal models (Kir et al, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) has a unique tumor-driven pattern that can lead to progressive functional impairment, treatment-related complications, poor quality of life, and mortality. As a multi-organ syndrome, CAC is closely associated with skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, the bone, the liver, the neural system, and the gut (Argiles et al, 2018). The communication between the adipose tissue and tumor is under intense investigation. White adipose tissue (WAT) is mainly composed of large spherical adipocytes, in which a unilocular lipid droplet occupies most of the cell volume.

Results

Conclusion