Characterization of breast adipose tissue as a niche in cancer progression

• Project/Area Number: 24791369
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General surgery
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: FUJIMOTO Hiroshi 千葉大学, 総合安全衛生管理機構, 助教 (60456027)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2014-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2013)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
• Keywords: 乳腺外科学 / 癌間質相互作用 / 脂肪組織

Research Abstract

Though the adipocyte represents one of the most abundant cell types surrounding breast cancer cells, little attention has been given to it. The purpose of this study is to unravel the role of adipose tissue as a niche in breast cancer progression.Cancerous or non-cancerous breast adipose tissue derived from surgical specimen was digested with collagenase and adipocyte was isolated. Isolated mature adipocyte was cultivated in three-dimensional collagen gel culture system. The difference between cancer-associated adipocytes (CAA) and non- CAA was evaluated. CAA exhibited a more undifferentitated phenotype than non-CAA in collagen gel culture. Furthermore, Soluble factor including IL-6 and MCP-1 from CAA promoted chemotaxis of breast cancer cells.