Energy balance and carcinogenesis: underlying pathways and targets for intervention

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Metabolic Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Obesity is a significant risk factor for numerous cancers, with rising prevalence in the U.S.
• Increasing childhood obesity rates suggest future increases in obesity-related cancers.
• Mechanisms linking obesity to cancer and the impact of energy balance interventions remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review animal and human studies on energy balance modulations (diet, exercise, pharmaceuticals).
• To identify interrelated pathways affected by energy balance alterations.
• To provide a foundation for mechanistic research on obesity-cancer links.

Main Methods:

• Review of key animal and human studies on diet, exercise, and pharmaceutical interventions.
• Focus on the insulin/IGF-1/Akt pathway as a target for disrupting the obesity-cancer link.
• Discussion of global approaches like genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.

Main Results:

• The insulin/IGF-1/Akt pathway is a key target for addressing the obesity-cancer association.
• Energy balance modulations impact carcinogenesis through complex, interrelated pathways.
• Genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics offer promise for understanding these pathways.

Conclusions:

• Further mechanistic research is needed to understand how energy balance affects cancer.
• Identifying specific targets within energy balance-responsive pathways is essential for cancer prevention.
• This review aims to provide critical mechanistic insights for controlling obesity-related cancers.