Obesity, Type-2 Diabetes and Cancer: Mechanistic Insights

Crit Rev Oncog. 2019;24(3):285-305. doi: 10.1615/CritRevOncog.2019032959.

Abstract

Obesity leads to many diseases including hypercholesterolemia, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It is the fastest-growing lethal disease in the Western and developing countries. The link between obesity and cancer is relatively underappreciated among the general population. Obesity represents the number one risk factor for type-2 diabetes and a considerable body of epidemiological studies supports the relationship between type-2 diabetes and many cancers. In this review, we examine the obesity-type-2-diabetes-cancer relationships from a mechanistic perspective, and where appropriate, we highlight potential pharmaceutical and dietary interventions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / therapy
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / metabolism*
  • Obesity / therapy
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk Reduction Behavior*