Obesity and Breast Cancer: A Case of Inflamed Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women and a worse prognosis for all major breast cancer subtypes regardless of menopausal status. While the link between obesity and the pathogenesis of breast cancer is clear, the molecular mechanism of this association is not completely understood due to the complexity of both obesity and breast cancer. The aim of this review is to highlight the association between obesity and breast cancer and discuss the literature, which indicates that this association is due to chronic adipose tissue inflammation. We will discuss the epidemiological data for the association between breast cancer incidence and progression as well as the potential molecular mechanisms for this association. We will focus on the role of inflammation within the adipose tissue during the pathogenesis of breast cancer. A better understanding of how obesity and adipose tissue inflammation affects the pathogenesis of breast cancer will lead to new strategies to reduce breast cancer risk and improve patient outcomes for obese patients.

Breast Cancer—Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Classification, Prognostic Markers, and Current Treatment Strategies—An Updated Review

“…This association is mostly intensified in obese post-menopausal females who tend to develop estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. Yet, independently to menopausal status, obese women achieve poorer clinical outcomes [ 92 ]. Wang et al showed that females above 50 years old with greater Body Mass Index (BMI) are at a greater risk of cancer compared to those with low BMI [ 93 ].…”

Tissue-Specific Warburg Effect in Breast Cancer and Cancer-Associated Adipose Tissue—Relationship between AMPK and Glycolysis

“…Moreover, our study cohort was comprised of young, premenopausal, insulin-sensitive, and mainly overweight women. Mammary adipose tissue functions previously associated with breast cancer progression and obesity, such as lipolysis, secretion of growth factors, adipokines, and proinflammatory cytokines, were mainly studied in vitro [ 73 , 74 ] or were associated with age, menopausal status, and insulin resistance in vivo [ 75 ]. More in vivo and human studies are necessary to reveal obesity-related changes to the fundamental aspects of mammary adipose tissue metabolism, especially in premenopausal women.…”

Current Landscape: The Mechanism and Therapeutic Impact of Obesity for Breast Cancer

“…For instance, in both dietary and genetic models of obesity, Subbaramaiah et al proved observed the presence of CLSs with a typical structural feature, which was related to NF-kB activation, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the elevated expression and activity of aromatase in the mammary gland (77). Moreover, large epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that obesity positively contributes to the formation of CLSs and their association with clinical BC outcomes (88). Therefore, targeting CLSs in breast adipose tissue emerges as a prominent therapeutic strategy, and the tests of body adipose tissue composition and inhibition of inflammation state will be of value to direct combinatorial approaches.…”