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Obesity in cancer survival
Niyati Parekh1, Urmila Chandran, Elisa V Bandera
1Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Annual Review of Nutrition
|May 1, 2012
Summary
Obesity impacts cancer survival, particularly for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. Most studies link higher body adiposity to poorer cancer prognosis, but more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Obesity is a recognized risk factor for developing various cancers.
- The influence of obesity on cancer survival and prognosis remains inadequately understood.
- Focus on obesity-related cancers: prostate, colorectal, and breast.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature on the impact of body adiposity on the prognosis of prostate, colorectal, and breast cancers.
- To evaluate the current evidence regarding obesity's role in cancer survival for these specific cancer types.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review methodology.
- Inclusion of 33 breast cancer studies, 6 prostate cancer studies, and 8 colorectal cancer studies.
- Assessment of study methodologies for potential limitations in evaluating cancer prognosis.
Main Results:
- The majority of included studies suggest a correlation between higher body adiposity and increased site-specific cancer mortality or disease progression.
- Evidence is heavily weighted towards breast cancer survivorship, with limited research available for prostate and colorectal cancers.
- Methodological limitations were noted across many studies, impacting the certainty of conclusions.
Conclusions:
- Most evidence indicates that body adiposity negatively affects the prognosis of common obesity-related cancers.
- Significant methodological challenges exist in current research, necessitating cautious interpretation.
- Urgent need for further, well-designed research to clarify the long-term effects of obesity on cancer survivors.
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