The effect of lipoaspirates vs. dissected abdominal fat on breast cancer cells in vitro.
BACKGROUND
Cancer cells are typically surrounded by stromal cells and embedded in extracellular matrix (ECM). The stromal compartment interacts with cancer cells to promote growth and metastasis. For decades, autologous fasciocutaneous flaps have been safely applied for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. In contrast, the safety of fat grafting (lipofilling) procedure has been under debate regarding the risk of cancer recurrence.


METHODS
Harvested fat tissue (lipoaspirates) and dissected abdominal fat (DAF) were co-cultured with MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The vitality of MCF-7 cells was measured using AlamarBlue®consecutively for 5 days. ECM degradation was determined by detection of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in MCF-7 cells. Integrin α2 was measured by Western blot to assess the degree of adhesion and motility of MFC-7 cells.


RESULTS
The MCF-7 proliferation increased substantially when co-cultured with fat tissue. However, there was no significant difference between the proliferation stimulating effects of lipoaspirates and DAF. Similarly, MMP-1 protein expression was equally elevated in MCF-7 cells by both lipoaspirates and DAF. Importantly, MCF-7 cells showed an increased level of integrin α2 once co-cultured with either lipoaspirates or DAF.


CONCLUSIONS
Fat tissue increases the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in vitro. Our data suggest that lipoaspirates as well as DAF might possess a considerable potency to promote tumorigenic growth of breast cancer cells. Thus, clinical trials are needed to address the safety of lipofilling by breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy.
Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery and Burn Center, RWTH University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany. faris.almarzouqi@gmail.com.
Faris
F
Almarzouqi
Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery and Burn Center, RWTH University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Hans-Oliver
HO
Rennekampff
Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery and Burn Center, RWTH University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Jan-Philipp
JP
Stromps
Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery and Burn Center, RWTH University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Ziyad
Z
Alharbi
Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery and Burn Center, RWTH University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Norbert
N
Pallua
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics*; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D039421:Integrin alpha2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D039421:Integrin alpha2
Breast cancer; Breast reconstruction; Fat grafting