Obesity and thyroid cancer risk

Abstract

Purpose of review This review explores recent evidence assessing the relationship between obesity and thyroid cancer. Recent findings Consistent evidence from observational studies suggests that obesity increases the risk of thyroid cancer. The relationship persists when alternative measures of adiposity are used, but the strength of association may vary according to the timing and duration of obesity and how obesity or other metabolic parameters are defined as exposures. Recent studies have reported an association between obesity and thyroid cancers that are larger or have adverse clinicopathologic features, including those with BRAF mutations, thus providing evidence that the association is relevant for clinically significant thyroid cancers. The underlying mechanism for the association remains uncertain but may be driven by disruption in adipokines and growth-signaling pathways. Summary Obesity is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer, although further research is required to understand the biological mechanisms underpinning this relationship. Reducing the prevalence of obesity is predicted to lessen the future burden of thyroid cancer. However, the presence of obesity does not impact current recommendations for screening or management of thyroid cancer.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and thyroid cancer: is it the time to be concerned?

“…The risk seems to be affected by gender, with women being exposed to a greater risk of differentiated thyroid cancer than men are, although a healthy body weight reduces the risk in both genders ( 55 , 56 ). Moreover, obesity is significantly associated with several adverse histological characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer at diagnosis, including larger tumor size, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, lymph nodal involvement, and BRAF mutation ( 57 , 58 , 59 ). Several studies suggested that the leading mechanisms explaining how weight excess can affect the risk of differentiated, mostly papillary, thyroid cancer are in the pro-inflammatory background (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha), insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and altered signaling of thyroid-stimulating hormone, insulin growth factor 1, leptin, adiponectin, and androgens, ultimately promoting thyroid cell proliferation ( 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ).…”

Temporal trends of thyroid cancer between 2010 and 2019 in Asian countries by geographical region and SDI, comparison with global data

“…The best‐studied risk factor for differentiated thyroid carcinomas is radiation exposure, which increases the risk of thyroid malignancy from 5% to 50%. 17 , 22 Other risk factors include estrogen, 23 smoking, 24 diabetes, 25 insulin resistance, 26 obesity, 27 metabolic syndrome , 28 insulin resistance, 23 and physical activity. 29 In a population‐based cohort study conducted in Korea, smoking and alcohol were shown to be inversely associated with thyroid cancer, with a significant interaction between these variables.…”