Cancer and Obesity: A Biological Perspective

The rising incidence and associated mortality of cancer on the worldwide scale has made cancer a global health problem. Although the cause of oncogenesis is multifactorial, certain well-established risk factors are known to play their part in cancer development. The risk for cancers can be reduced since these factors are manageable. For instance, tobacco and alcohol use can be avoided, and obesity can be controlled with the help of lifestyle modification. This review provides a brief insight into the postulated mechanisms on how obesity can lead to cancer initiation, progression, and even treatment resistance. Mediators and pathways with documented clinical evidence that connects obesity to cancer are also discussed. These mediators include various adipokines, free fatty acids, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1, sex hormones, and products of chronic inflammation. The recent concept of obesity paradox has also been discussed. Exploring these biological mediators and pathways linking obesity to cancer will open new avenues for not only cancer treatment but also its prevention.