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

Xiaoye Shi; Aimin Jiang; Zhengang Qiu; Anqi Lin; Zaoqu Liu; Lingxuan Zhu; Weiming Mou; Quan Cheng; Jian Zhang; Kai Miao; Peng Luo

doi:10.1007/s11684-024-1094-2

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

Front Med. 2024 Nov 14. doi: 10.1007/s11684-024-1094-2. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xiaoye Shi^#^{1

2}, Aimin Jiang^#³, Zhengang Qiu^#^{4

5}, Anqi Lin^#¹, Zaoqu Liu^{6

7}, Lingxuan Zhu¹, Weiming Mou^{1

8}, Quan Cheng^{9

10}, Jian Zhang¹¹, Kai Miao^{12

13}, Peng Luo¹⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China.
² The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
³ Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China.
⁴ Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
⁵ Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, 102206, China.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Pathophysiology, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
⁸ Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
⁹ Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China. [email protected].
¹⁰ National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China. [email protected].
¹¹ Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China. [email protected].
¹² Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, 999078, China. [email protected].
¹³ MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macao SAR, 999078, China. [email protected].
¹⁴ Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China. [email protected].

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39542988
DOI: 10.1007/s11684-024-1094-2

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.

Publication types

Review