Role of adipose-derived stem cells in breast cancer

The clinical use of fat grafts for breast reconstruction post-mastectomy or radiotherapy has the disadvantages of limited retention and survival rates. To solve this problem, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been suggested as an alternative cell source for breast reconstruction, because they are simple to access, have low immunogenicity, and support the survival of mature adipose grafts. However, despite their outstanding properties, the use of ADSCs in patients with breast cancer is controversial, and the oncological safety of this method has been questioned. The biological effects of ADSCs on breast cancer are complex, and clinical research on ADSC-assisted fat grafting is limited. Here, we review the current experimental findings on the effects of ADSCs on breast cancer, mainly focusing on the role of ADSCs in breast cancer proliferation and growth processes, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis. We also discuss the safety of ADSCs in clinical breast reconstruction.