Exploring the adipose tissue microenvironment: how it shapes cancer-therapy outcomes
As global obesity prevalence increases, elucidating how this specialised microenvironment governs tumour behaviour has become imperative [2]. Current evidence demonstrates that adipose-derived factors:
- reprogramme cancer-cell metabolism,
- reshape local and systemic immune responses, and
- condition therapeutic susceptibility and resistance profiles [3].
Consequently, a detailed characterisation of adipose–tumour crosstalk is expected to facilitate the development of refined, patient-specific therapeutic strategies [4].
The role of adipose tissue in cancer development
Adipose tissue is a multifunctional organ that integrates metabolic, endocrine, and immunological signalling pathways [1, 3].
Excess adiposity constitutes an established, dose-dependent risk factor for multiple malignancies [5].
Adipose-mediated tumour promotion is underpinned by several inter-related mechanisms:
- Pro-inflammatory secretome: sustained release of adipokines, cytokines, and growth factors that establish a tumour-permissive milieu [2, 3].
- Lipid provisioning: obesity-associated lipolysis supplies a continuous flux of fatty acids to rapidly proliferating cancer cells [6, 8].
- Local microenvironmental support: cooperative interactions among adipocytes, stromal fibroblasts, and infiltrating immune cells within the tumour microenvironment (TME) foster growth, invasion, and therapeutic resistance [4, 5].
Collectively, these systemic and tissue-level processes underscore the necessity of incorporating adipose biology into oncological risk models and intervention designs.
Understanding the microenvironment: key components
The adipose-tissue microenvironment encompasses distinct cell populations embedded within a dynamically remodelled extracellular matrix (ECM) [1].
Heterogeneity within this compartment dictates its tumour-modifying capacity.
Cellular constituents [3]
- Mature adipocytes / pre-adipocytes
- Fibroblasts and endothelial cells
- Immune subsets: macrophages, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells
Structural framework [4]
- Extracellular matrix: a protein-polysaccharide lattice regulating cell adhesion, migration, and growth-factor bioavailability; ECM composition and stiffness critically influence tumour progression and treatment response.
Bioactive mediators
- Adipokines: leptin (generally pro-tumorigenic) and adiponectin (often anti-
tumorigenic) [2, 5] - Cytokines: TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β—central drivers of chronic inflammation [3]
- Growth factors: VEGF, IGF—facilitators of angiogenesis and proliferation [8]
The quantitative and qualitative balance of these mediators ultimately governs whether the microenvironment supports or constrains tumour growth.
Interaction between adipocytes and cancer cells
The interaction between adipocytes and cancer cells is a dynamic, reciprocal process mediated by intricate signalling networks [4]. Adipocytes influence tumour cells via secreted adipokines, cytokines and growth factors, as well as through direct cell–cell contact. Conversely, malignant cells reprogramme adipocyte metabolism and phenotype.
Adipocyte-derived cues potentiate malignant traits, while cancer cells induce a lipolytic, pro-inflammatory adipocyte phenotype.
Key mechanisms:
- Adipokine signalling. Leptin activates JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways to promote proliferation, migration and angiogenesis, whereas
adiponectin exerts anti-tumour effects by constraining cell growth and inducing apoptosis [2, 5]. - Pro-inflammatory cytokine flux. TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, produced by adipocytes and resident immune cells, trigger NF-κB and STAT3 activation, enhancing survival, invasion and metastatic potential [3, 4].
- Metabolic crosstalk. Cancer-induced lipolysis liberates free fatty acids that fuel β-oxidation and membrane biogenesis in tumour cells [6, 8].
- Phenotypic conversion. Tumour-secreted factors drive pre-adipocytes toward cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) with heightened lipolytic activity and cytokine output; novel in-vitro systems are now available to dissect these interactions [10].
The bidirectional exchange of signals and metabolites thus constitutes a critical driver of tumour progression and therapy resistance.
Adipose tissue and immune response in cancer
Adipose tissue harbours diverse immune subsets whose composition and functional state are profoundly altered in obesity [3, 5].
Obesity-associated immune remodelling skews the adipose microenvironment toward a pro-tumorigenic, immunosuppressive state.
Principal alterations
- Macrophage polarisation. Adipose-tissue macrophages adopt a pro-
inflammatory phenotype (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) that supports tumour growth and dampens cytotoxic lymphocyte function [3, 5]. - T-cell repertoire shift. Increased Th1/Th17 frequencies and reduced
Treg/Th2 populations elevate IFN-γ and IL-17 levels, fostering chronic
inflammation and metastatic dissemination [3]. - Natural-killer-cell impairment. Adipose-derived leptin and free fatty acids diminish NK-cell cytotoxicity and cytokine production, weakening innate anti-tumour surveillance [3, 7].
Collectively, these changes not only promote oncogenesis but also attenuate the efficacy of immunotherapies that rely on robust effector responses.
Implications for cancer therapy: targeting the microenvironment
Traditional cytotoxic and radiation therapies chiefly address tumour cells; however, microenvironmental factors, including adipose tissue, critically influence therapeutic response and resistance patterns [1, 4].
Dual-target strategies that modulate both malignant cells and the adipose niche are emerging as rational interventions.
Therapeutic avenues
- Metabolic intervention. Inhibition of adipocyte lipolysis or cancer-cell fatty- acid oxidation restricts nutrient supply, curtailing tumour growth; engineered UCP1-upregulated adipocyte organoids exemplify this approach by out-competing tumours for glucose and lipids [6, 8, 11].
- Anti-inflammatory modulation. Pharmacological blockade of TNF-α, IL-6 or related cytokines, and re-polarisation of macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype, reduce pro-tumour signalling and may synergise with checkpoint inhibitors [3, 5].
- Endocrine targeting. Suppression of leptin signalling or elevation of adiponectin levels attenuates proliferative cues and can enhance immune competence, offering an adjunct to standard therapies [2, 5].
Integrating such microenvironment-focused strategies with conventional regimens holds promise for overcoming resistance and improving patient- specific outcomes.
Current research on adipose tissue and cancer treatment
A rapidly growing body of literature is delineating the molecular basis of adipose–tumour interactions and their therapeutic ramifications [1, 4].
1) Metabolic investigations
● Lipolysis blockade. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of adipocyte lipolysis, as well as direct suppression of tumour fatty-acid uptake/β oxidation, reduces tumour burden and potentiates chemotherapeutic efficacy [6, 8].
● Pathway dissection. Isotope-tracing and multi-omics analyses are clarifying how specific lipid-handling enzymes (e.g., CPT1A, DGAT) govern proliferation and drug resistance. Inflammatory microenvironment studies
2) Inflammatory microenvironment studies
● Cytokine targeting. Neutralisation of TNF-α, IL-6 and related mediators dampens metastatic spread in pre-clinical models [3].
● Immune-cell reprogramming. Macrophage and T-cell plasticity within adipose tissue is being exploited to enhance checkpoint-inhibitor responsiveness [3, 5].
2) Endocrine-function research
● Adipokine signalling. Structure–function analyses of leptin and adiponectin receptors are identifying druggable nodes that modulate ERK, PI3K and AMPK pathways [2, 5].
Collectively, these studies are mapping a framework for microenvironment- informed therapeutic design.
Future directions in cancer therapy and the adipose microenvironment
Integration of metabolic, inflammatory and endocrine insights is expected to drive the next generation of precision therapies [1, 5].
Strategic priorities
- Combination regimens. Concurrent targeting of tumour-intrinsic pathways and adipose-derived support systems; for example, pairing β oxidation inhibitors with anti-IL-6 antibodies, may achieve synergistic cytoreduction and delay resistance [8].
- Biomarker discovery. Circulating or imaging based signatures of adipokines, cytokines and adipose-tissue inflammation are under evaluation as predictors of treatment response and toxicity [5].
- Advanced diagnostics. Non-invasive modalities (e.g., PET tracers for adipose inflammation, hyperpolarised MRI for lipid flux) could enable real-time monitoring of microenvironmental dynamics and therapy adaptation [1].
Translational success will hinge on robust patient stratification and the rational pairing of microenvironmental targets with existing oncologic platforms.
Conclusion: the importance of considering adipose tissue in cancer therapy
The adipose-tissue microenvironment is now recognised as a critical determinant of oncogenesis, disease progression and therapeutic response [1, 4].
Failure to account for adipose-mediated metabolic, inflammatory and endocrine influences risks incomplete disease control [2, 3, 5].
Recent and ongoing investigations are elucidating actionable pathways (lipid metabolism, cytokine signaling, adipokine networks) that can be co-targeted alongside conventional modalities [6, 8]. Looking forward, microenvironment-tailored combination strategies, biomarker-guided patient selection and advanced imaging technologies promise to refine oncology practice and improve clinical outcomes [5, 8].
Integrating adipose biology into cancer-therapy paradigms therefore represents both a scientific imperative and an opportunity to deliver more effective, patient-specific care.
Resources
1. Habanjar O, Diab-Assaf M, Caldefie-Chezet F, Delort L. The Impact of Obesity, Adipose Tissue, and Tumor Microenvironment on Macrophage Polarization and Metastasis. Biology. 21 févr 2022;11(2):339.
2. VanSaun MN. Molecular Pathways: Adiponectin and Leptin Signaling in Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 15 avr 2013;19(8):1926‑32.
3. Kern L, Mittenbühler M, Vesting A, Ostermann A, Wunderlich C, Wunderlich F. Obesity-Induced TNFα and IL-6 Signaling: The Missing Link between Obesity and Inflammation—Driven Liver and Colorectal Cancers. Cancers. 27 déc 2018;11(1):24.
4. Nieman KM, Romero IL, Van Houten B, Lengyel E. Adipose tissue and adipocytes support tumorigenesis and metastasis. Biochim Biophys Acta BBA – Mol Cell Biol Lipids. oct 2013;1831(10):1533‑41.
5. Bocian-Jastrzębska A, Malczewska-Herman A, Kos-Kudła B. Role of Leptin and Adiponectin in Carcinogenesis. Cancers. 24 août 2023;15(17):4250.
6. Balaban S, Shearer RF, Lee LS, Van Geldermalsen M, Schreuder M, Shtein HC, et al. Adipocyte lipolysis links obesity to breast cancer growth: adipocyte-derived
fatty acids drive breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. Cancer Metab. déc 2017;5(1):1.
7. Bähr I, Spielmann J, Quandt D, Kielstein H. Obesity-Associated Alterations of Natural Killer Cells and Immunosurveillance of Cancer. Front Immunol. 13 mars 2020;11:245.
8. Koundouros N, Poulogiannis G. Reprogramming of fatty acid metabolism in cancer. Br J Cancer. 7 janv 2020;122(1):4‑22.
9. Hopkins BD, Goncalves MD, Cantley LC. Obesity and Cancer Mechanisms: Cancer Metabolism. J Clin Oncol. 10 déc 2016;34(35):4277‑83.
10. Rebeaud M, Bouche C, Dauvillier S, Attané C, Arellano C, Vaysse C, et al. A novel 3D culture model for human primary mammary adipocytes to study their metabolic crosstalk with breast cancer in lean and obese conditions. Sci Rep. 22 mars 2023;13(1):4707.
11. Nguyen HP, An K, Ito Y, Kharbikar BN, Sheng R, Paredes B, et al. Implantation of engineered adipocytes suppresses tumor progression in cancer models. Nat Biotechnol [Internet]. 4 févr 2025 [cité 4 avr 2025]; Disponible sur: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-024-02551-2
