Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42053153›Full record

Observational studyThe breast journal2026

Cancer-Associated Adipocytes in Human Breast Cancer: An Observational Histopathological Study of Dedifferentiation and Stromal Transition.

Jun Xiao, Xiaomei Zhou, Yichen Wang, Haibin Wu, Hong Zeng, Yiping Wu

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in The breast journal, 2026. 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. Observational
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

6 authors.

Jun XiaoDepartment of Breast Surgery, Yueyang Central Hospital, 39 Dongmaoling Road, Yueyang, 414000, Hunan, China.ORCID 0009-0006-3224-7405
Xiaomei ZhouDepartment of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China, hust.edu.cn.ORCID 0009-0008-3705-5490
Yichen WangDepartment of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China, hust.edu.cn.ORCID 0009-0001-5581-0778
Haibin WuChinese Medicine Health Management Center, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518033, China, szszyy.cn.ORCID 0009-0005-2466-1131
Hong ZengDepartment of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China, hust.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0002-2527-0766
Yiping WuDepartment of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China, hust.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0002-4815-0732

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2023M741278Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province 2023JJ50305Wu Jieping Medical Foundation 320.6750.2023-18-88
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdipose tissue is a major stromal component of the breast cancer (BC) tumor microenvironment (TME), playing a crucial role in BC progression. Cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs), located at the invasive tumor front, undergo significant morphological and functional alterations. This observational case-control study investigated the dedifferentiation trajectory of CAAs and its impact on BC progression.

methodsPaired tumor and distant normal adipose tissues from 20 BC patients were analyzed. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to assess morphological changes and marker expressions α-SMA, S100A4, and CD36 in CAAs.

resultsCAAs exhibited features consistent with dedifferentiation toward a myofibroblast-like phenotype, marked by expressing α-SMA and S100A4, indicators of myofibroblasts and tumor-associated fibroblasts. Metabolically, CAAs showed increased CD36 expression and histological features compatible with augmented lipolysis and were spatially associated with areas of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Masson's trichrome staining demonstrated augmented pericellular collagen deposition, accompanied by increased tissue stiffness and enhanced angiogenesis at the tumor-adipose boundary. In addition, nuclear translocation of β-catenin in peritumoral adipocytes implicates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis as a potential regulator of adipocyte-mesenchymal transition in this context.

Indexed as

AdipocytesBreast NeoplasmsCell DedifferentiationActinsAdultAgedbeta CateninCase-Control StudiesCD36 AntigensFemaleHumansMiddle AgedS100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4Stromal CellsTumor MicroenvironmentACTA2 protein, humanActinsbeta CateninCD36 AntigensCD36 protein, humanS100A4 protein, humanS100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4adipocytebreast cancerdedifferentiationmetabolismprotumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID42053153
PMCPMC13126615

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Registered trials

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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.