Carbonic anhydrases III and IX are new players in the crosstalk between adrenocortical carcinoma and its altered adipose microenvironment

Purpose Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare malignancy of the adrenocortex, is characterized by a crosstalk between the adipose microenvironment and tumor. Here, we assessed the involvement of carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzymes III and IX (CAIII and CAIX), in the metabolic alterations of the adipose tissue characterizing obesity and in the local crosstalk between the tumor adipose microenvironment and ACC. Results/methods CAIII and CAIX expression is altered in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in obesity and in ACC. A significant CAIX upregulation was present in ACC at advanced stages ( n = 14) (fold increase FI = 7.4 ± 0.1, P