title: Obesity-associated digestive cancers: A review of mechanisms and interventions.
abstract: The prevalence of obesity has steadily increased over the past few decades. Previous studies suggest that obesity is an oncogenic factor and that over 20% of all cancers are obesity-related. Among such cancers, digestive system malignancies (including esophageal adenocarcinomas, colorectal cancers, and cancers of the gastric cardia, liver, and pancreas) are reported most frequently. While the 5-year survival rates of cancers of the breast and prostate are 90%, that rate is only 45% for digestive cancers. In this review, the mechanisms of obesity-associated digestive cancers are discussed, with an emphasis on obesity-related gene mutations, insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling pathways, chronic inflammation, and altered adipokine levels. Evidence that these factors often function interdependently rather than independently in carcinogenesis is presented. Recommended interventions that may reduce the burden of obesity-associated digestive cancers, such as participation in physical activity, diet modulation, and calorie restriction, are also described.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Jiachen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Jiahui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Guoying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Shizhong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xi
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Obesity; digestive cancers; inflammation; mechanisms of cancers