<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Metabolic syndrome, a clustering of risk factors including obesity, has emerged as a global health plague. A lot of epidemiological and clinical evidence suggests that the metabolic syndrome is linked not only to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus type 2 but also to cancer development and progression. In this review the potential mechanisms tying the metabolic syndrome with cancer are presented. The role of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, the activation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) pathway, and the induction of cytotoxic products are highlighted. Subsequent effects leading to oxidative stress, release of lipokines with signaling properties by adipocytes, development of a sustained systemic inflammation, production of inflammatory cytokines, and establishment of a tumorigenic environment are also discussed. The importance of the metabolic syndrome and obesity coupled with the deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms has trigger intensive clinical research with an aim to prevent the risk of cancer and improve outcomes. Moreover, the need for lifestyle changes with increased physical activity and improved dietary quality has been emerged as urgent health priority.</p></abstract>

Metabolic syndrome, a clustering of risk factors including obesity, has emerged as a global health plague. A lot of epidemiological and clinical evidence suggests that the metabolic syndrome is linked not only to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus type 2 but also to cancer development and progression. In this review the potential mechanisms tying the metabolic syndrome with cancer are presented. The role of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, the activation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) pathway, and the induction of cytotoxic products are highlighted. Subsequent effects leading to oxidative stress, release of lipokines with signaling properties by adipocytes, development of a sustained systemic inflammation, production of inflammatory cytokines, and establishment of a tumorigenic environment are also discussed. The importance of the metabolic syndrome and obesity coupled with the deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms has trigger intensive clinical research with an aim to prevent the risk of cancer and improve outcomes. Moreover, the need for lifestyle changes with increased physical activity and improved dietary quality has been emerged as urgent health priority.

Metabolic syndrome and Cancer: Do they share common molecular pathways?

Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital of Piraeus, Departments of Medical Oncology and Endocrinology Botassi 51, 18537Piraeus,

Forum of Clinical Oncology

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

{"article-title":"Metabolic syndrome and Cancer: Do they share common molecular pathways?"}

Metabolic syndrome, a clustering of risk factors including obesity, has emerged as a global health plague. A lot of epidemiological and clinical evidence...

Metabolic syndrome and Cancer: Do they share common molecular pathways?

Published Online: Dec 30, 2016

Page range: 7 - 15

Received: Jun 21, 2016

Accepted: Aug 25, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fco-2016-0006

Keywords
Obesity, Metabolic syndrome, Insulin resistance, Lipokines, Cancer prevention

© 2016 De Gruyter Open

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Metabolic syndrome and Cancer: Do they share common molecular pathways?

Published Online: Dec 30, 2016

Page range: 7 - 15

Received: Jun 21, 2016

Accepted: Aug 25, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fco-2016-0006

KeywordsObesity, Metabolic syndrome, Insulin resistance, Lipokines, Cancer prevention

© 2016 De Gruyter Open

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords
Obesity, Metabolic syndrome, Insulin resistance, Lipokines, Cancer prevention