Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41354793›Full record

ArticleCell communication and signaling : CCS2025

Cancer-associated adipocytes promote peritoneal metastasis of colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma via FABP4 induction.

Weixing Dai, Wenqin Luo, Hongsheng Fang, Ruiqi Gu, Guoxiang Cai, Yikuan Chen, Senlin Zhao, Renjie Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell communication and signaling : CCS, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Weixing Dai *Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Wenqin Luo *Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Hongsheng Fang *Department of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Ruiqi GuDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Guoxiang CaiDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Yikuan ChenDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. chenyk@shca.org.cn.
Senlin ZhaoDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. sunshinezsl1989@163.com.
Renjie WangDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. wangbladejay@sina.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82003317National Natural Science Foundation of China 82103554
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundColorectal signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a rare and aggressive subtype with a high propensity for peritoneal metastasis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

methodsWe isolated cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) from omental tissue adjacent to SRCC peritoneal metastases and examined their morphological and metabolic features compared to normal adipocytes (NAs). Co-culture systems, patient-derived organoids (PDOs), transcriptomic/metabolomic profiling, and peritoneal metastasis mouse models were employed to assess the functional impact of CAAs. The role of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) and its regulation via CAA-derived exosomes was also investigated.

resultsCAAs exhibited a dedifferentiated phenotype, enhanced free fatty acid secretion, and upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases. Co-culture with CAAs significantly promoted SRCC PDO proliferation, stemness, and peritoneal metastasis, accompanied by a metabolic shift toward fatty acid utilization. Among fatty acid metabolism-related genes, FABP4 was markedly upregulated in peritoneal metastases and associated with poor prognosis. Functional assays confirmed that FABP4 promoted fatty acid oxidation (FAO), stemness, and metastasis in PDOs, while FABP4 knockdown abrogated these effects. Mechanistically, CAA-derived exosomes induced FABP4 expression in PDOs, and inhibition of exosome release reversed the pro-tumorigenic phenotypes.

conclusionsCAA-derived exosomal signaling promotes SRCC aggressiveness through FABP4-mediated fatty acid metabolic reprogramming, identifying FABP4 as a potential therapeutic target for peritoneal metastasis in colorectal SRCC.

Indexed as

AdipocytesCarcinoma, Signet Ring CellColorectal NeoplasmsFatty Acid-Binding ProteinsPeritoneal NeoplasmsAnimalsCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationExosomesFemaleHumansMaleMiceFABP4 protein, humanFatty Acid-Binding Proteins

Identifiers

PMID41354793
PMCPMC12805693

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.