Abnormal lipid metabolism in cancer-associated cachexia and potential therapy strategy

Ruoxin Fang; Ling Yan; Zhengkai Liao

doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1123567

Abnormal lipid metabolism in cancer-associated cachexia and potential therapy strategy

Front Oncol. 2023 May 2:13:1123567. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1123567. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ruoxin Fang¹, Ling Yan², Zhengkai Liao¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
² Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Metabolic and Chronic Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Abstract

Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) is a major characteristic of advanced cancer, associates with almost all types of cancer. Recent studies have found that lipopenia is an important feature of CAC, and it even occurs earlier than sarcopenia. Different types of adipose tissue are all important in the process of CAC. In CAC patients, the catabolism of white adipose tissue (WAT) is increased, leading to an increase in circulating free fatty acids (FFAs), resulting in " lipotoxic". At the same time, WAT also is induced by a variety of mechanisms, browning into brown adipose tissue (BAT). BAT is activated in CAC and greatly increases energy expenditure in patients. In addition, the production of lipid is reduced in CAC, and the cross-talk between adipose tissue and other systems, such as muscle tissue and immune system, also aggravates the progression of CAC. The treatment of CAC is still a vital clinical problem, and the abnormal lipid metabolism in CAC provides a new way for the treatment of CAC. In this article, we will review the mechanism of metabolic abnormalities of adipose tissue in CAC and its role in treatment.

Keywords: adipose tissue; cachexia; cancer; lipid metabolism; therapy strategy.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 81870299], Guiding Fund of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University [grant numbers RMYD2018M39].