Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab 2009;53(2):213-226
Epidemiological and molecular mechanisms aspects linking obesity and cancer
DOI: 10.1590/S0004-27302009000200013
About 25% of cancer cases globally are due to excess weight and a sedentary lifestyle. These results are alarming, as the world knows a pandemy of obesity and, in consequence, insulin resistance. Obesity may increase risk for various cancers by several mechanisms, including increasing sex and metabolic hormones, and inflammation. Here, we present a review of epidemiological and molecular evidences linking obesity and cancer – particularly colorectal, post-menopausal breast, endometrial, pancreatic, high grade prostate, hepatocellular, gallbladder, kidney and esophageal adenocarcinoma. The expected striking increase in the incidence of cancer in the near future related to obesity turns the knowledge of this field of great impact as it is needed to the development of strategies to prevent and treat this disease.
Keywords: insulin resistance; Neoplasms; obesity; overweight