Tumour-surrounding adipocytes are active players in breast cancer progression.

Accumulating recent evidence highlights the tumour-surrounding adipose tissue as a key component of breast cancer progression. We have recently demonstrated that a bidirectional crosstalk is established with breast cancer cells and tumour-surrounding adipocytes. Tumour cell secretions are able to modify tumour-surrounding adipocytes to an activated state that we have named Cancer-Associated Adipocytes (CAAs). The role of CAAs in breast cancer progression, as well as the potential amplification of this negative effect in obesity conditions will be discussed.