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Review
. 2012 Jun 12;6(1):e11.
doi: 10.4081/oncol.2012.e11. eCollection 2012 Mar 5.

A role of active brown adipose tissue in cancer cachexia?

Emiel Beijer  1 , Janna Schoenmakers  2 , Guy Vijgen  3 , Fons Kessels  4 , Anne-Marie Dingemans  5 , Patrick Schrauwen  6 , Miel Wouters  7 , Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt  6 , Jaap Teule  1 , Boudewijn Brans  8
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Review

A role of active brown adipose tissue in cancer cachexia?

Emiel Beijer et al. Oncol Rev. .
Free PMC article

Abstract

Until a few years ago, adult humans were not thought to have brown adipose tissue (BAT). Now, this is a rapidly evolving field of research with perspectives in metabolic syndromes such as obesity and new therapies targeting its bio-energetic pathways. White, brown and so-called brite adipose fat seem to be able to trans-differentiate into each other, emphasizing the dynamic nature of fat tissue for metabolism. Human and animal data in cancer cachexia to date provide some evidence for BAT activation, but its quantitative impact on energy expenditure and weight loss is controversial. Prospective clinical studies can address the potential role of BAT in cancer cachexia using (18)F-fluoro- deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography scanning, with careful consideration of co-factors such as diet, exposure to the cold, physical activity and body mass index, that all seem to act on BAT recruitment and activity.

Keywords: 18F-FDG PET-CT.; UCP-1; brown adipose tissue; brown fat; cachexia; cancer; energy expenditure; thermogenesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests: Emiel Beijer and Janna Schoenmakers are recipients of a grant by The Weijerhorst Foundation.

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