title: Obesity in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood.
abstract: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common malignancy in childhood. Continuous progress in risk-adapted treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia has secured 5-year event-free survival rates of approximately 80% and 8-year survival rates approaching 90%. Almost 75% of survivors, however, have a chronic health condition negatively impacting on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Obesity can be considered one of the most important health chronic conditions in the general population, with an increasing incidence in patients treated for childhood cancers and especially in acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors who are, at the same time, more at risk of experiencing precocious cardiovascular and metabolic co-morbidities. The hypothalamic-pituitary axis damage secondary to cancer therapies (cranial irradiation and chemotherapy) or to primary tumor together with lifestyle modifications and genetic factors could affect long-term outcomes. Nevertheless, the etiology of obesity in acute lymphoblastic leukemia is not yet fully understood. The present review has the aim of summarizing the published data and examining the most accepted mechanisms and main predisposing factors related to weight gain in this particular population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. iughetti.lorenzo@unimore.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iughetti
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruzzi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Predieri
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paolucci
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000528:radiation effects; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology; D008019:Life Style; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D013006:Growth Hormone