Environmental Temperature and White Adipose Tissue in Cancer Patients

Obesity is characterized by excessive white adipose tissue (WAT) that increases risk for disease. About 700 million adults are obese worldwide, designating the need of reducing excessive WAT in humans and subsequently the risk for disease. For this reason, previous research focused on the thermogenic capacity of white adipocytes in response to cold exposure. Cold exposure represents a main stimulus for increased thermogenic capacity in human white adipocytes, which may have an impact on body weight loss and subsequently on obesity phenomenon.

In a cohort of 202 cancer patients (male=126), who undertook a Positron Emission Tomography (PET/CT), we retrospectively investigated the association between Tenv and thermogenic capacity of subcutaneous WAT (dorsolumbar region near vertebrae L3 and abdominal region). These patients undertook a PET/CT examination in order to define their disease status. They were given instructions in advance to refrain from smoking, exercise and excessive muscle stressors 24-hour prior to their examination. On the day of the measurements they advised to transport themselves by car to the PET/CT Laboratory between 08:00 am to 12 pm, following at least a 6-hour fasting. Patients were first injected an appropriate dose of 18F-FDG (based on their body weight) and then they were remained in a sitting relaxed position within a quiet room of 22-24°C for 60 minutes. Following this period, patients undertook the PET/CT examination, which included on average eight bed positions, while four minutes scanning per bed position was used.

PET/CT imaging analysis for WAT activity (dorsolumbar region near vertebrae L3 and abdominal region) was performed by two independent trained physicians, using previous methodology.