Preface

Excerpt

The prevalence of obesity, the condition of adipose tissue overgrowth, is advancing progressively worldwide. Increased risk and aggressiveness of many types of cancer are associated with obesity, as indicated by the building body of evidence from metanalysis studies. Cancer initiation is likely to be linked with genotoxic stress and to energy disbalance in obesity due to diet and lifestyle, as well as with inflammation ensuing in adipose tissue of obese individuals. The plethora of mechanisms through which obesity contributes to cancer progression is becoming unraveled. These include, but are not limited to, systemic and local changes in glucose and lipid metabolism, hormonal dysregulation, activation of growth signaling, and alterations in the immune system function. The role of adipose tissue neighboring tumors in the progression of carcinomas to aggressive stages has become apparent. Adipocytes and stromal and vascular cells, as well as leukocytes infiltrating adipose tissue, serve distinct functions at the tumor border and in the tumor microenvironment. Peritumoral adipose cells engage in a crosstalk with tumor cells, which, as a result, acquire increased capacity for metastasis and resistance to therapy. There is a clear need for better understanding of specific molecular mechanisms underlying the stimulatory effects of various depots and components of adipose tissue on distinct types of cancer. …