Defining the role of adipocytes in cancer and metabolic disorders
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Defining the role of adipocytes in cancer and metabolic disorders
IRAS ID
323093
Contact name
Valerie Speirs
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 29 days
Research summary
The objective of this study is to determine how fat cells (adipocytes) may influence the development or the behaviour of cancers and metabolic disorders and how increased body weight predisposes to these conditions. Adipocytes are specialised cells that have the capacity to store energy as fat up to a safe limit. Obesity is defined as an increased accumulation of fat resulting in the expansion of these adipocytes in size and number. Once the limit for expansion is met, excess fat can no longer be safely stored in adipocytes. This results in adipocyte dysfunction, whilst the overflow of additional fat to other non-adipose cells and tissues also causes dysfunction elsewhere. It is not fully understood how these changes alter adipocytes and how this influences the initiation and progression of cancer and metabolic disorders.
To assess the influence of adipocyte dysfunction, fat tissue will be obtained from patients with differing body mass index (BMI). Fat tissue that is surplus to diagnostic requirements will be removed during either gastrointestinal surgery or breast reconstruction surgery. These samples will be collected and taken directly to the laboratory for use in various experiments by Professor Speirs' and Professor Rochford's groups. These experiments include: 1) isolation of different cell types from adipose tissue, 2) growing of these cells alone and with other cell types, 3) modifying these cells to change gene expression and examine the effects on growth and metabolic pathways, 4) monitoring metabolism, gene and protein expression in these cells and in the adipose tissue samples through various experiments including qPCr and Fast-Field Cycling.
This project aims to provide mechanistic insights into how healthy and unhealthy adipocytes interact and function in the development or the behaviour of cancers and metabolic disorders, providing insight into the initiation and progression of these serious and prevalent diseases.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NE/0220
Date of REC Opinion
20 Nov 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion