Bone Marrow Adipocytes: A Link between Obesity and Bone Cancer

Abstract

Cancers that grow in the bone marrow are for most patients scary, painful, and incurable. These cancers are especially hard to treat due to the supportive microenvironment provided by the bone marrow niche in which they reside. New therapies designed to target tumor cells have extended the life expectancy for these patients, but better therapies are needed and new ideas for how to target these cancers are crucial. This need has led researchers to interrogate whether bone marrow adipocytes (BMAds), which increase in number and size during aging and in obesity, contribute to cancer initiation or progression within the bone marrow. Across the globe, the consensus in the field is a unified “yes”. However, how to target these adipocytes or the factors they produce and how BMAds interact with different tumor cells are open research questions. Herein, we review this research field, with the goal of accelerating research in the network of laboratories working in this area and attracting bright scientists with new perspectives and ideas to the field in order to bring about better therapies for patients with bone cancers.

Metabolic Disorders in Multiple Myeloma

“…In addition to the above, obesity increases the number and size of bone marrow adipocytes [ 117 ]. Accumulating evidence has shown that adipocytes are in close interplay with myeloma cells [ 117 , 118 ].…”

“…In addition to the above, obesity increases the number and size of bone marrow adipocytes [ 117 ]. Accumulating evidence has shown that adipocytes are in close interplay with myeloma cells [ 117 , 118 ]. Bone marrow adipocytes have a dual role; being an energy depository andinvolvement in metabolic activity by providing adipokines and bioactive molecules [ 118 ].…”

Next Generation Bone Marrow Adiposity Researchers: Report From the 1st BMAS Summer School 2021

“…The second part of the lecture focused on the role of BMAT in the context of human pathology. BMAT is, in fact, involved in different pathologies of the bone and bone marrow, including osteoporosis, bone fragility, hematological tumors, bone cancer metastasis, and some genetic disorders involving the skeleton ( 29 , 30 ). On the other hand, BMAT may have its own tissue-specific pathology such as lipoma and hibernoma ( 31 , 32 ).…”

Morphological and Immunophenotypical Changes of Human Bone Marrow Adipocytes in Marrow Metastasis and Myelofibrosis

“…However, it is now widely recognized that BMAds represent a distinct fat depot with metabolic and functional properties that are different from those of the other human fat tissues ( 6 ). In addition, it is now well known that BMAds participate in the regulation of skeletal homeostasis, in systemic metabolism and in the pathogenesis of different bone and BM diseases ( 4 , 7 ).…”