The reason why obesity can cause cancer

Researchers of the University of Bergen, in Norway, have shown that lipids associated with obesity make cancer cells more aggressive and more likely to form true tumors. Cancer is caused by genetic changes that break the normal limitations of cell growth and obesity and being overweight are known to increase the risk of developing tumours, but the question until now was why this happens.

In this new work, published in the magazine ‘Nature Communications‘, researchers have discovered that the environment change that surrounds the cancer cell, from a body with normal weight to another with overweight or obesity, pushes the cancer cell to adapt. This allows malignant cells to form a tumor.

“This means that even in the absence of new genetic mutations, obesity increases the risk of tumors forming,” says Associate Professor Nils Halberg.

“Scientifically dissect how they interact these two complicated diseases has been extremely interesting and rewarding,” he explains. Especially since this new knowledge will allow researchers to design better treatments for obese patients with cancer.”

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