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Review
. 2016 Jan 27;8(323):323ps3.
doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aad8842. Epub 2016 Jan 27.

Effects of obesity on hormonally driven cancer in women

Kelle H Moley  1 , Graham A Colditz  2
Affiliations
Review

Effects of obesity on hormonally driven cancer in women

Kelle H Moley et al. Sci Transl Med. .

Abstract

Obesity increases the risk of numerous poor health outcomes, including cancer. Obesity is especially problematic in women because both they and their offspring may be at increased risk of cancer. Studying transmission of obesity-induced cancer risk is challenging in humans, but animal studies are beginning to reveal the underlying mechanisms.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors declare they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. A schematic of possible maternal influences on cancer risk in offspring
In a maternal obesogenic environment, offspring cells could inherit malfunctioning mitochondria and/or deregulated epigenetic signatures. These alterations contribute to a tissue environment characterized by hyperplasia and nuclear atypia. When combined with additional genetic or carcinogenic hits, this predisposed phenotype may result in cancer in exposed offspring. CREDIT: H. MCDONALD/SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Life course relationship of adiposity and weight gain with breast cancer risk
Breast cancer risk accumulates across the life course, summarized here by time periods labeled as fetal life, infancy and childhood, adolescence, premenopause, and postmenopause because the demarcation of these periods varies modestly among women. The relationship of adiposity with future breast cancer risk is shown relative to the risk of cancer for women with BMI in the normal range. CREDIT: H. MCDONALD/SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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