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Review
. 2024 Dec;18(6):945-968.
doi: 10.1007/s11684-024-1094-2. Epub 2024 Nov 14.

Novel perspectives on the link between obesity and cancer risk: from mechanisms to clinical implications

Xiaoye Shi #  1   2 , Aimin Jiang #  3 , Zhengang Qiu #  4   5 , Anqi Lin #  1 , Zaoqu Liu  6   7 , Lingxuan Zhu  1 , Weiming Mou  1   8 , Quan Cheng  9   10 , Jian Zhang  11 , Kai Miao  12   13 , Peng Luo  14
Affiliations
Review

Novel perspectives on the link between obesity and cancer risk: from mechanisms to clinical implications

Xiaoye Shi et al. Front Med. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Existing epidemiologic and clinical studies have demonstrated that obesity is associated with the risk of a variety of cancers. In recent years, an increasing number of experimental and clinical studies have unraveled the complex relationship between obesity and cancer risk and the underlying mechanisms. Obesity-induced abnormalities in immunity and biochemical metabolism, including chronic inflammation, hormonal disorders, dysregulation of adipokines, and microbial dysbiosis, may be important contributors to cancer development and progression. These contributors play different roles in cancer development and progression at different sites. Lifestyle changes, weight loss medications, and bariatric surgery are key approaches for weight-centered, obesity-related cancer prevention. Treatment of obesity-related inflammation and hormonal or metabolic dysregulation with medications has also shown promise in preventing obesity-related cancers. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms through which obesity affects the risk of cancer at different sites and explore intervention strategies for the prevention of obesity-associated cancers, concluding with unresolved questions and future directions regarding the link between obesity and cancer. The aim is to provide valuable theoretical foundations and insights for the in-depth exploration of the complex relationship between obesity and cancer risk and its clinical applications.

Keywords: cancer prevention; cancer risk; carcinogenesis; obesity; obesity-associated cancers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethics guidelines. Xiaoye Shi, Aimin Jiang, Zhengang Qiu, Anqi Lin, Zaoqu Liu, Lingxuan Zhu, Weiming Mou, Quan Cheng, Jian Zhang, Kai Miao, and Peng Luo declare that they have no conflict of interest. This manuscript is a review article and does not involve a research protocol requiring approval by the relevant institutional review board or ethics committee.

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