Cancer et obésité

Body mass index and weight gain are associated with increased risk of malignancies. Œsophageal, colon, renal, liver, gallbladder, prostate cancers are more frequent in men, and postmenopausal breast and endometrium in women. The mechanisms driving these associations are unclear and it is unlikely that there is a “one system first all” explanation. Three main candidates are proposed: insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, sex steroids, and adipokins. Weight loss can reduce the risk of new cancers but weight gain could decrease the outcome of treated cancers related to pitfalls in the dosing of chemotherapy and efficacy of radiations therapy. Prevention of weight gain is a critical issue to prevent cancer development.