title: Obesity and breast cancer: a clinical biochemistry perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the laboratory diagnosis aspects of obesity-related health problems with special reference to postmenopausal breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systemic search of the literature primarily from the PubMed to obtain the relevant data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obesity is associated with the dysregulations of a number of body components such as blood constituents, extracellular matrix, and hormones/growth factors axes, which could be utilized for early diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity-related disorders including breast cancer have emerged as major health problems in almost all the nations. There is a need to elucidate different biochemical markers that are being used in the clinics or have the potential for such use. A precise understanding of the complex pathologies related with obesity is useful in prevention, early diagnosis and overall clinical management.
authors.affiliation: The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801-16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA.
authors.forename: Amitabha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Margot P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cleary
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin