Obesity, Insulin Resistance and Cancer Risk

Abstract

Obesity is a known cause of metabolic syndrome which includes Type II diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. It is well documented that insulin resistance contributes to the mortality and the incidence of metabolic syndromes including central obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension. Both obesity and diabetes are emerging topics for researchers to consider as having a possible causal association with cancer since the two factors have been viewed as risk factors for cancer. The present paper introduced the hypothesis of a possible causal relationship between obesity, insulin resistance and cancer and reviews relevant existing studies in this area. More efforts and studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms and the common risk factors which might be incorporated into interventions to prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases as top causes of death.

Direct Administration of Insulin Into Skeletal Muscle Reveals That the Transport of Insulin Across the Capillary Endothelium Limits the Time Course of Insulin to Activate Glucose Disposal

“…Based on these results, we speculate that defects in insulin transport across the endothelial layer of skeletal muscle will contribute to insulin resistance. Diabetes 57:828-835, 2008 I nsulin resistance is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes, as well as other chronic ailments, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension (1)(2)(3), and certain cancers (4). Understanding the cause(s) of insulin resistance is an important goal to improve public health.…”

Hypertension, diuretics and breast cancer risk

“…Although there is a growing body of literature on the relation between obesity and post-menopausal breast cancer risk, the pathways responsible are still under investigation. 3 It has been hypothesized that hypertension and breast cancer may be associated owing to shared risk factors such as high body mass index (BMI) or metabolic syndrome, 4 or common pathophysiologic pathways including those involved in insulin resistance, 5 and hormone synthesis and metabolism. 6 Several studies have examined associations between hypertension and cancer risk.…”

Unopposed Exogenous Estrogen Administration And its Effect on The Histomorphology of Endometrium in Swiss Albino Mice

“…An overweight of more than 23kg strongly increases the risk for endometrial carcinoma through hormonal excess [17]. The increase in the adipose tissue deposition leads to increase in the oxidative stress which triggers pathogenesis that develops into metabolic syndrome [16].…”

“…Estrogens act at molecular level and increase the transcription and growth factor signaling pathway and cause malignant changes [15]. There are several mechanisms by which obesity induce malignant transformation mainly -increased cell proliferation, cell growth from growth hormones and reduced apoptosis [16]. An overweight of more than 23kg strongly increases the risk for endometrial carcinoma through hormonal excess [17].…”