OBESITY RELATED TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER: A REVIEW

Abstract

Obesity is a complex disease caused by the interaction of myriad genetics, dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors which favours a chronic positive energy balance leading to increased body fat mass. There is an emerging evidence of strong association between obesity and different types of cancer. These include breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, gastric cancer etc. The mechanisms linking both the diseases are not fully understood. We have therefore assembled the review evidence on obesity and different types of cancer. The review includes all the population based studies that assessed the association between overweight BMI 25-29.9 and obesity (BMI>=30), a cohort studies was conducted among post menopausal women to determine whether genetic polymorphisms in selected obesity related genes that may cause breast cancer. This review paper presents the existing knowledge about how obesity can enhance different types of cancer and focusing on therapeutic, molecular mechanisms for obesity and different types of cancer.