title: [Obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes: risk factors for breast cancer].
abstract: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are two risk factors of breast cancer, especially after menopause. Underlying mechanisms are multiple and include hyperinsulinism due to insulin resistance (insulin, as insulin-like-growth factor -IGF-, is a growth factor), hyperleptinaemia associated with hypoadiponectinaemia, and high levels of estrogens resulting from aromatization of androgens in adipose tissue. In presence of type 2 diabetes associated with obesity, hyperglycaemia might provide energy substrate promoting tumour growth. These data have therapeutic implications with expected favourable effects of weight loss, resulting in a reduction of fat mass and insulin resistance, and the promising results recently reported with metformin contrasting with the negative effects of exogenous administration of high doses of insulin.
authors.affiliation: Université de Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scheen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Flines
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rorive
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors