Fig. 3.

Mechanisms of adipocytes in regulating the progression and metastasis of breast cancer. In invasive front of BC cells, adipocytes undergo lipolysis and change into an active phenotype, referred to as CAAs. CAAs are involved in the process of tumor progression and metastasis of BC, including secretion of multiple adipokines; ECM remodeling by expressing and activating of several ECM proteins and enzymes; metabolic reprogramming by transferring FFAs, released in the lipolysis process of adipocytes, into the BC cell and increasing FAO; miRNA regulating; immune cells. Abbreviations: BC, Breast cancer; CAAs, cancer-associated adipocytes; ECM, extracellular matrix; FFAs, free fatty acids; FAO, fatty acid β-oxidation; EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition