Evaluation of browning markers in subcutaneous adipose tissue of newly diagnosed gastrointestinal cancer patients with and without cachexia

We assessed the molecular phenotype of the browning of white adipose tissue in newly diagnosed cancer patients and controls undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal tumors and for non-malignant diseases, respectively. We collected subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) samples and using RT-PCR, we analyzed the expression of markers of browning and using Western blot the protein levels of UCP1 and PGC1α. The Ucp1 mRNA levels were lower in cancer patients vs. controls (p = 0.01), whereas Cidea and Tmem26 mRNA levels were higher in cancer patients. We found higher PGC1α protein levels in patients vs. controls, while no differences were seen for UCP1. The Ucp1 expression was lower in cachectic and non-cachectic patients vs. controls, whereas Cidea expression was higher in cachectic and non-cachectic patients vs. controls. Pgc1α mRNA levels were higher in cachectic vs. non-cachectic patients (p = 0.03) vs. controls (p = 0.016). According to type of tumors, we did not observe differences in Cidea expression, whereas Pgc1α was higher in pancreatic cancer vs. colorectal and vs. controls. We observed the lower expression of Ucp1 in pancreatic and colorectal cancer vs. controls. We documented higher UCP1 protein levels in pancreatic cancer patients vs. colorectal (p = 0.002) and vs. controls (p = 0.031). PGC1α protein levels were higher in pancreatic cancer patients vs. controls. Different markers of the browning of SAT are modulated, and pancreatic cancer showed changes in UCP1 and PGC1α; PGC1α was highly expressed in cachectic patients, with clinical implications that should be further clarified.