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Updated: Mar 11, 2026
10:51
Modeling Breast Cancer in Human Breast Tissue using a Microphysiological System
Published on: April 23, 2021
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Obesity and Breast Cancer
Renée T Fortner1, Verena Katzke2, Tilman Kühn2
1Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. r.fortner@dkfz.de.
Summary
Adiposity, or excess body fat, influences breast cancer risk and survival. This review examines how different measures of body fat, timing of assessment, and tumor characteristics impact these relationships.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- The link between body fat and breast cancer is intricate, varying by menopausal status and obesity timing.
- Obesity's effect on breast cancer risk is further modified by hormone receptor status and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use in postmenopausal women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the complex associations between various measures of adiposity and breast cancer risk and survival.
- To explore the impact of childhood/adolescent adiposity, general obesity, weight fluctuations, and abdominal fat on breast cancer outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review and synthesis of existing research.
- Analysis of epidemiological studies investigating adiposity metrics and breast cancer incidence and mortality.
Main Results:
- Associations between adiposity and breast cancer risk differ significantly between premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
- Obesity is linked to altered breast cancer prognosis, with effects varying by tumor estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor status.
Conclusions:
- Adiposity is a critical factor influencing breast cancer development and survival, with nuanced relationships based on individual characteristics and disease subtypes.
- Understanding these complex links is essential for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies for breast cancer.
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