fig3

Figure 3. The tumor-adipose tissue crosstalk. Tumor cells are capable of remodeling adipocyte metabolism, locally and at a distance. Cancer cells secrete EVs containing a vast content of proteins and miRNAs that can promote the transdifferentiation of white adipocytes into beige adipocytes. In turn, the transdifferentiated white adipocytes fuel tumor growth and metastasis formation by engaging in a metabolic crosstalk with tumor cells. These adipocytes can secrete EVs enriched in specific metabolites, epithelial and mesenchymal markers, and/or miRNAs. As a consequence, tumor-AT crosstalk favors cancer progression and metastization of tumor cells to distant organs and induces cachexia in cancer patients. Created with Biorender.com. EVs: Extracellular vesicles; tumor-AT: tumor-adipose tissue.