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Role of metabolism-regulating signaling molecule (FAM3c) in breast cancer progression

A ground-breaking study conducted by Professor Jeong Park and his research team in the Department of Biological Sciences at UNIST has identified FAM3C, a metabolism-regulating signaling molecule produced by cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs), that is involved in the development of breast cancer. As the main regulator of progress. Tumor microenvironment (TME). The findings, published in the prestigious academic journal Cancer Research, highlight the potential of targeted therapies in the treatment of breast cancer.

Study shows that overexpression of FAM3C in cultured adipocytes significantly reduces cell death in both adipocytes and co-cultured breast cancer cells while suppressing markers of fibrosis. In contrast, FAM3C deficiency in CAAs leads to adipocyte-mesenchymal transition (AMT) and increased fibrosis within the TME. The research team also discovered that breast cancer cells stimulate FAM3C expression in adipocytes through TGF-beta signaling, which can be blocked by a TGF-beta-neutralizing antibody.

In a genetically engineered mouse model of breast cancer, early depletion of FAM3C in CAs significantly inhibited primary and metastatic tumor growth. Furthermore, elevated levels of circulating FAM3C were observed in patients with metastatic breast cancer compared to patients with non-metastatic breast cancer.

Professor Jeong Park said, "These findings suggest that therapeutic inhibition of FAM3C expression in CAAs during early tumor development may hold promise as a novel approach in the treatment of breast cancer patients." "Understanding the role of cancer-associated adipocytes and their secreted molecules, such as FAM3C, opens new avenues for the development of early diagnostic markers and targeted therapies for breast cancer."

The findings of this study have been published in the online edition of Cancer Research on December 20, 2023. The research was conducted in collaboration with the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT). , Basic Science Research Program, as well as a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea.

Reference:

Sahi Kim, Jeong Oh, Chanho Park, et al., "FAM3C in cancer-associated adipocytes promotes survival and metastasis of breast cancer cells," Cancer Research, (2023).

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