Review article

The relationship between obesity and cancer

IVANA VUČENIK ; Department of Medical and Research Technology and Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201
JOSEPH P STAINS ; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201
LAUNDETTE P JONES ; Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201

Abstract

Obesity is an urgent and growing global health problem. Among other
co-morbidities, obesity is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing many cancers. The epidemiological evidence linking obesity and cancer has ignited multiple studies trying to understand how obesity contributes to cancer risk. Although mechanisms underlying the obesity-cancer link are becoming increasingly clearer, they are very complex and still under intense investigation. Strategies that prevent and/or reverse obesity may also be useful for reducing the progression of cancer. Recent interests are focused towards brown fat as a primary target to combat obesity. In this review, we
integrate the classic understandings of the mechanistic role of obesity in cancer to the studies which suggest a beneficial role of brown fat to humans.

Keywords

obesity; cancer; mechanisms; prevention; inositol phosphates; brown fat

Hrčak ID:

138137

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/138137

Publication date:

30.12.2014.

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