Cancer Spread Halted by Converting Cancer Cells into Fat Cells

Most cancer deaths result from metastasis. To metastasize, cancer cells must undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) . In January 2019, Cancer Cell published a study successfully converting breast cancer cells undergoing EMT into fat cells. This may pave the way for effective treatments preventing metastasis.

The research was conducted at the University of Basel in Switzerland. Cancer cells can rapidly respond and adapt to a changing tumor microenvironment by transitioning from epithelial to mesenchymal characteristics, allowing conversion into different cell types. They also use EMT to migrate to other tissues and organs. Tumors undergoing EMT commonly develop chemotherapy and targeted therapy resistance. Researchers studied how EMT cancer cells could be altered in mice transplanted with human breast cancer cells.

Giving mice the diabetes drug rosiglitazone and a MEK inhibitor cancer drug converted cancer cells into fat cells. Primary tumor growth and metastasis were also inhibited.

Graphical Summary of the Study:

What Does This Study Mean for Us?

• An effective method preventing cancer-cell metastasis was discovered, using FDA -approved drugs—two in combination. Besides suppressing metastasis, breast cancer-cell proliferation stopped, and cancer cells were successfully converted into fat cells.
• Using two FDA-approved drugs raises hopes that the method could enter clinical use quickly.
• Importantly, this study was performed in mouse models. Human clinical trials must demonstrate effectiveness before use.
• Researchers next plan to test it in different cancer types and in chemotherapy combinations.

The article image above shows cancer cells before and after treatment. The left image shows cancer cells in green and a fat cell in red. After treatment, cancer cells became fat cells. Dark yellow structures show the converted cells.