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Does obesity increase the risk of ovarian cancer? A literature review

Klaudia Kwiatkowska, Anna Pawłowska, Dorota Suszczyk, Monika Bilska, Rafał Tarkowski, Jan Kotarski, Iwona Wertel
Affiliacja i adres do korespondencji
Curr Gynecol Oncol 2017, 15 (4), p. 277–283
DOI: 10.15557/CGO.2017.0027
Streszczenie

Obesity is one of the twenty-first century civilization diseases, which has been long linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. Epidemiological data show that a slim body (body mass index, BMI 21–23 kg/m2) allows to avoid 20% of cancers related to excess fat tissue. Increased body weight (BMI >25 kg/m2) is associated with approximately 1.5-fold higher risk of cancer compared to the risk with normal BMI. There is growing evidence that high BMI may also increase the risk of cancer recurrence and mortality as well as reduce the efficacy of chemotherapy. While the relationship between obesity and numerous cancers, such as colon cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney and pancreatic cancer, has been scientifically proven, studies assessing the relationship between ovarian cancer and obesity remain inconclusive. Some studies confirm the increased risk of cancer in obese women, whereas other authors do not show this correlation or even point to higher survival rates among obese patients with ovarian cancer, which is known as the obesity paradox. A variety of research methodologies may be found in the literature. Perhaps this is the reason for the significant divergence of results obtained in different studies. The aim of the paper was to describe selected substances produced by the adipose tissue, which play a crucial role in the induction of inflammation. We also present literature data on the relationship between obesity and ovarian cancer.

Słowa kluczowe
ovarian cancer, obesity, BMI, inflammation