Cancer
Adipose fat boosts breast cancer growth
By Qingqing Ho
Apr 18, 2005 - 12:00:00 AM

A study found an association between increased adipose mass and an elevated risk of breast cancer.

In the study, Philipp Scherer and colleagues from Albert Einstein College of Medicine identified factors that are secreted by adipocytes, which are present in breast cancer stromal tissue. A particularly interesting factor is adipocyte-derived collagen VI.

It was found that this factor promotes early tumor growth within the mammary microenvironment in vivo and encourages proliferation and survival of malignant cells. Mice that lack collagen VI have the tumor growth significantly reduced.

The researchers also found that substantial enrichment of a fragment of collagen VI appears on the surface of human breast tumor cells. This fragment can stimulate the cancer cell growth in vivo.

The study appeared online on April 14 in advance of the print publication of the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. #