Adipose Stem Cells and Cancer: Concise Review

Abstract

It is well established that the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in cancer development and progression. The tumor microenvironment is composed of neoplastic cells, endothelial cells, pericytes, adipocytes, fibroblasts and other connective tissue cells, extracellular matrix components, multiple stem and progenitor cells, and a diverse array of innate and adaptive immune cells [Nat Rev Cancer 2007;7:139–147]. Understanding the mechanisms behind cell–cell communication in the tumor microenvironment is critical to understanding the drivers of tumorigenesis and metastasis. In this review, we discuss the interactions between adipose stem cells, a critical component of the tumor microenvironment, and various forms of cancer. Stem Cells 2019;37:1261–1266.