title: Mammary fat of breast cancer: gene expression profiling and functional characterization.
abstract: Mammary fat is the main composition of breast, and is the most probable candidate to affect tumor behavior because the fat produces hormones, growth factors and adipokines, a heterogeneous group of signaling molecules. Gene expression profiling and functional characterization of mammary fat in Chinese women has not been reported. Thus, we collected the mammary fat tissues adjacent to breast tumors from 60 subjects, among which 30 subjects had breast cancer and 30 had benign lesions. We isolated and cultured the stromal vascular cell fraction from mammary fat. The expression of genes related to adipose function (including adipogenesis and secretion) was detected at both the tissue and the cellular level. We also studied mammary fat browning. The results indicated that fat tissue close to malignant and benign lesions exhibited distinctive gene expression profiles and functional characteristics. Although the mammary fat of breast tumors atrophied, it secreted tumor growth stimulatory factors. Browning of mammary fat was observed and browning activity of fat close to malignant breast tumors was greater than that close to benign lesions. Understanding the diversity between these two fat depots may possibly help us improve our understanding of breast cancer pathogenesis and find the key to unlock new anticancer therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fengliang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ziyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Jinling High School, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geratology, the First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; C493410:FABP4 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins