Review

Nature Reviews Cancer 4, 579-591 (August 2004) | doi:10.1038/nrc1408

Overweight, obesity and cancer: epidemiological evidence and proposed mechanisms

Eugenia E. Calle1 & Rudolf Kaaks2  About the authors

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The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing globally. Epidemiological studies have associated obesity with a range of cancer types, although the mechanisms by which obesity induces or promotes tumorigenesis vary by cancer site. These include insulin resistance and resultant chronic hyperinsulinaemia, increased bioavailability of steroid hormones and localized inflammation. Gaining a better understanding of the relationship between obesity and cancer can provide new insight into mechanisms of cancer pathogenesis.

Author affiliations

  1. American Cancer Society, 1599 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30306, USA.
  2. International Agency or Research on Cancer, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France.

Correspondence to: Eugenia E. Calle1 Email: Jeanne.Calle@cancer.org

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