Adipocytes activate mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and autophagy to promote tumor growth in colon cancer.

ABSTRACT: Obesity has been associated with increased incidence and mortality of a wide variety of human cancers including colorectal cancer. However, the molecular mechanism by which adipocytes regulate the metabolism of colon cancer cells remains elusive. In this study, we showed that adipocytes isolated from adipose tissues of colon cancer patients have an important role in modulating cellular metabolism to support tumor growth and survival. Abundant adipocytes were found in close association with invasive tumor cells in colon cancer patients. Co-culture of adipocytes with colon cancer cells led to a transfer of free fatty acids that released from the adipocytes to the cancer cells. Uptake of fatty acids allowed the cancer cells to survive nutrient deprivation conditions by upregulating mitochondr

SUBMITTER: Wen YA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5386470 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature