A Role of Active Brown Adipose Tissue in Cancer Cachexia?

Overview

Journal Oncol Rev

Specialty Oncology

Date 2015 May 21

PMID 25992201

Citations 21

Authors

Emiel Beijer

Janna Schoenmakers

Guy Vijgen

Fons Kessels

Anne-Marie Dingemans

Patrick Schrauwen

Miel Wouters

Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt

Jaap Teule

Boudewijn Brans

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Until a few years ago, adult humans were not thought to have brown adipose tissue (BAT). Now, this is a rapidly evolving field of research with perspectives in metabolic syndromes such as obesity and new therapies targeting its bio-energetic pathways. White, brown and so-called brite adipose fat seem to be able to trans-differentiate into each other, emphasizing the dynamic nature of fat tissue for metabolism. Human and animal data in cancer cachexia to date provide some evidence for BAT activation, but its quantitative impact on energy expenditure and weight loss is controversial. Prospective clinical studies can address the potential role of BAT in cancer cachexia using (18)F-fluoro- deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography scanning, with careful consideration of co-factors such as diet, exposure to the cold, physical activity and body mass index, that all seem to act on BAT recruitment and activity.

Citing Articles

Metabolically active brown adipose tissue in PPGL: an observational cohort study.

Ostarijas E, Onyema M, Zair Z, Taylor D, Lajeunesse-Trempe F, Reynolds S Endocr Relat Cancer. 2025; 32(4).

PMID: 39985422 PMC: 11906127. DOI: 10.1530/ERC-24-0200.

An update on the secretory functions of brown, white, and beige adipose tissue: Towards therapeutic applications.

Ghesmati Z, Rashid M, Fayezi S, Gieseler F, Alizadeh E, Darabi M Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2023; 25(2):279-308.

PMID: 38051471 PMC: 10942928. DOI: 10.1007/s11154-023-09850-0.

Unravelling the Role of Cancer Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Muscle Atrophy, Lipolysis, and Cancer-Associated Cachexia.

Marzan A, Chitti S Cells. 2023; 12(22).

PMID: 37998333 PMC: 10670053. DOI: 10.3390/cells12222598.

Off the Beaten Path in Oncology: Active Brown Adipose Tissue by Virtue of Molecular Imaging.

Jalloul W, Moscalu M, Moscalu R, Jalloul D, Grierosu I, Ionescu T Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2023; 45(10):7891-7914.

PMID: 37886942 PMC: 10604972. DOI: 10.3390/cimb45100499.

Novel Therapeutic Potentials of Taxifolin for Obesity-Induced Hepatic Steatosis, Fibrogenesis, and Tumorigenesis.

Inoue T, Fu B, Nishio M, Tanaka M, Kato H, Tanaka M Nutrients. 2023; 15(2).

PMID: 36678220 PMC: 9865844. DOI: 10.3390/nu15020350.

References

Hyltander A, Drott C, Korner U, Sandstrom R, Lundholm K . Elevated energy expenditure in cancer patients with solid tumours. Eur J Cancer. 1991; 27(1):9-15. DOI: 10.1016/0277-5379(91)90050-n. View

Essadel A, Bensaid Alaoui S, Mssrouri R, Mohammadine E, Benamr S, Taghy A . [Hibernoma: a rare case of massive weight loss]. Ann Chir. 2002; 127(3):215-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0003-3944(01)00715-5. View

Tayek J . A review of cancer cachexia and abnormal glucose metabolism in humans with cancer. J Am Coll Nutr. 1992; 11(4):445-56. DOI: 10.1080/07315724.1992.10718249. View

Fueger B, Czernin J, Hildebrandt I, Tran C, Halpern B, Stout D . Impact of animal handling on the results of 18F-FDG PET studies in mice. J Nucl Med. 2006; 47(6):999-1006. View

Oudart H, Calgari C, Andriamampandry M, Le Maho Y, Malan A . Stimulation of brown adipose tissue activity in tumor-bearing rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1995; 73(11):1625-31. DOI: 10.1139/y95-724. View

Yoneshiro T, Aita S, Matsushita M, Kameya T, Nakada K, Kawai Y . Brown adipose tissue, whole-body energy expenditure, and thermogenesis in healthy adult men. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010; 19(1):13-6. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2010.105. View

Cao D, Wu G, Zhang B, Quan Y, Wei J, Jin H . Resting energy expenditure and body composition in patients with newly detected cancer. Clin Nutr. 2009; 29(1):72-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.07.001. View

Tisdale M . Zinc-alpha2-glycoprotein in cachexia and obesity. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2009; 3(4):288-93. DOI: 10.1097/SPC.0b013e328331c897. View

van Marken Lichtenbelt W, Vanhommerig J, Smulders N, Drossaerts J, Kemerink G, Bouvy N . Cold-activated brown adipose tissue in healthy men. N Engl J Med. 2009; 360(15):1500-8. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa0808718. View

10.

Bing C, Russell S, Beckett E, Collins P, Taylor S, Barraclough R . Expression of uncoupling proteins-1, -2 and -3 mRNA is induced by an adenocarcinoma-derived lipid-mobilizing factor. Br J Cancer. 2002; 86(4):612-8. PMC: 2375279. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600101. View

11.

van Marken Lichtenbelt W, Schrauwen P . Implications of nonshivering thermogenesis for energy balance regulation in humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011; 301(2):R285-96. DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00652.2010. View

12.

Shellock F, Riedinger M, Fishbein M . Brown adipose tissue in cancer patients: possible cause of cancer-induced cachexia. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 1986; 111(1):82-5. DOI: 10.1007/BF00402783. View

13.

Baba S, Engles J, Huso D, Ishimori T, Wahl R . Comparison of uptake of multiple clinical radiotracers into brown adipose tissue under cold-stimulated and nonstimulated conditions. J Nucl Med. 2007; 48(10):1715-23. DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.107.041715. View

14.

Rousseau C, Bourbouloux E, Campion L, Fleury N, Bridji B, Chatal J . Brown fat in breast cancer patients: analysis of serial (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2006; 33(7):785-91. DOI: 10.1007/s00259-006-0066-x. View

15.

Lieffers J, Mourtzakis M, Hall K, McCargar L, Prado C, Baracos V . A viscerally driven cachexia syndrome in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: contributions of organ and tumor mass to whole-body energy demands. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009; 89(4):1173-9. PMC: 2667460. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.27273. View

16.

Masaki T, Yoshimatsu H, Chiba S, Hidaka S, Tajima D, Kakuma T . Tumor necrosis factor-alpha regulates in vivo expression of the rat UCP family differentially. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999; 1436(3):585-92. DOI: 10.1016/s0005-2760(98)00173-8. View

17.

Cypess A, Lehman S, Williams G, Tal I, Rodman D, Goldfine A . Identification and importance of brown adipose tissue in adult humans. N Engl J Med. 2009; 360(15):1509-17. PMC: 2859951. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa0810780. View

18.

Lee P, Greenfield J, Ho K, Fulham M . A critical appraisal of the prevalence and metabolic significance of brown adipose tissue in adult humans. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2010; 299(4):E601-6. DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00298.2010. View

19.

Nedergaard J, Bengtsson T, Cannon B . Three years with adult human brown adipose tissue. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011; 1212:E20-36. DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05905.x. View

20.

Timmons J, Wennmalm K, Larsson O, Walden T, Lassmann T, Petrovic N . Myogenic gene expression signature establishes that brown and white adipocytes originate from distinct cell lineages. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104(11):4401-6. PMC: 1810328. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0610615104. View