Tumour cells are well known to have an altered metabolic profile and are more able to obtain and metabolize nutrients than surrounding cells. Several existing cancer therapies target tumour metabolism. A new study in Nature Biotechnology reports the development of a cell-based therapy using engineered adipocytes to reduce tumour cell growth by altering tumour metabolism.

The researchers used CRISPR activation to upregulate UCP1, PPARGC1A or PRDM16 in adipocytes, leading to browning and increased glucose and lipid metabolism. These engineered adipocytes were then co-cultured with breast, pancreatic, colon or prostate cancer cell lines, which suppressed cancer cell proliferation and resulted in decreased glucose uptake, glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation in the cancer cells.