Fat Tissue Promotes the Growth of Breast Cancer Cells

Background:

 The patients who had breast conservative surgery for the breast cancer usually have some breast deformity. Fat graft is the popular and convenient method to improve it. But recent studies show evidence that stem cells or adipocytes can increase the proliferation and migration of cancer cells. It means that fat graft may increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Therefore, the interaction between fat tissue and breast cancer cells should be well studied.

Method:

    Breast cancer cells were cultured by transwell co-culture or conditioned medium. The ability of proliferation was observed by SRB assay and MTT assay. Migration assay was also checked. The breast cancer cells were combined with adipose-derived stem cells, fat tissue from liposuction or adipocytes, and then were injected into subcutaneous layer in nu mice. The condition of tumor growth was observed in vivo.

Result:

      Fat tissue from liposuction and adipocytes both increased the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Fat tissue from liposuction also increased the ability of migration. These findings suggest fat graft for correcting the deformity breast after breast conservative surgery may promote the progression or recurrence of breast cancer. The adipocyte-derived stem cells mildly increased proliferation of cancer cells in vitro but not in vivo.

Conclusion:

    The oncologic safety of fat graft is controversial. Currently, there is not clinical evidence about increased risk of tumor recurrence after fat grafting to breasts. But some animal studies and in vitro studies show the relationship between obesity and cancer. This study suggests that fat graft may promote breast cancer progression and migration. It should be noted when plastic surgeons perform fat graft to patients post-mastectomy for breast cancer.