[The link between obesity and cancer]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Epidemiology

Context:

• Environmental factors, lifestyle, and habits are primary drivers of cancer development.
• Obesity is identified as the most significant risk factor for malignant tumors in non-smokers.
• Epidemiological studies consistently link obesity to increased cancer risk.

Purpose:

• To explore the multifaceted relationship between obesity and cancer.
• To elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying obesity-driven tumorigenesis.
• To highlight the implications of obesity for cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and mortality.

Summary:

• Obesity is strongly associated with endometrial, postmenopausal breast, pancreatic, esophageal, and colon cancers.
• Key biological pathways include sexual steroids, insulin-like growth factor axis, and adipokines, alongside chronic inflammation, hypoxia, and oxidative stress.
• Obesity can impede cancer detection and treatment, elevating mortality rates.

Impact:

• Obesity prevention and management represent crucial modifiable strategies for reducing cancer incidence and mortality.
• Further research, potentially utilizing bariatric surgery as a model, is needed to quantify the impact of intentional weight reduction on cancer.
• Understanding these links is vital for public health initiatives and clinical practice in cancer prevention.