Metabolic syndrome, obesity and cancer risk

Abstract

Purpose of reviewThis review aims to report the latest discoveries regarding the relationship between BMI, obesity, and cancer development and treatment. Recent findingsObesity and metabolic syndrome relationships with cancer have been deeply investigated in the literature but their association is still debated. Currently, it has been recorded an association between BMI and endometrial, colorectal, gastric, liver, bladder, and prostate cancer. The mechanisms behind this association have also been investigated. It has been hypothesized that chronic inflammation determined by obesity may concur to the development of tumors and that Insulin Resistance may enhance cell proliferation directly or indirectly. Moreover, different studies suggest that the relationship between higher BMI and cancer may include metabolic disturbances comparable to those linked to metabolic syndrome. However, greater weight has been linked to a better overall prognosis in patients with advanced disease, a concept called the obesity paradox. This paradox has been recently investigated in the context of urological malignancies, such as bladder, prostate, and kidney cancer. SummaryPatients' metabolic and morphological status may impact their risk of developing different types of tumors and the response to systemic therapy. However, further research is necessary to better delineate the mechanisms behind these associations and how they could or should affect medical decision.

Alteraciones metabólicas y su relación con el índice de masa corporal

“…Diferentes estudios sugieren que la relación entre un IMC más alto y el cáncer puede incluir trastornos metabólicos comparables a los relacionados con el síndrome metabólico (SM) (Belladelli, F et al, 2022). A pasear de que se ha notado una asociación en forma de curva en J entre el IMC y el riesgo de mortalidad, aún no se tiene información precisa sobre el grado de aumento de la predisposición a la mortalidad relacionada con un aumento en el IMC, por ende, a continuación, se describen algunos de los parámetros de los criterios del SM asociados al IMC y las patologías más frecuentes relacionados (James, B. D., et al, 2018):…”

Transitions in metabolic syndrome and metabolic obesity status over time and risk of urologic cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…A Korean study [21] showed that participants with metabolic unhealth obesity had a higher risk of prostate cancer as well. The results of MetS and MUO on promoting the development of UC can be explained as follows: On the one hand, they share many common risk factors, including older age, obesity, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, disturbance of the biological clock, oxidative stress, air pollution and damage caused by exposure to substances that disrupt the endocrine system [22,23]; on the other hand, chronic in ammation determined by obesity may concur to the development of tumours, and insulin resistance may directly or indirectly enhance cell proliferation [24].…”

Effect of body mass index on the wound infection and complications in patients with liver cancer: A meta‐analysis

“…11 Obesity is a prominent issue in contemporary society, not only leading to various chronic diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases), 12 but also potentially associated with the development of several malignancies, including breast, bladder, and lung cancers. [13][14][15] There are multiple criteria for determining obesity, with clinical practice primarily measuring height and weight to approximate the proportion of body fat content, that is, using body mass index to assess obesity. 16 The liver plays a crucial role in fat metabolism, and numerous clinical studies have confirmed that the incidence of liver cancer has been rising in tandem with increasing rates of obesity in the population.…”