The metabolic syndrome and cancer

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association of many types of cancer with traits of the Metabolic syndrome. Data from case-control and cohort studies determined hazard ratios between 1.1 and 2.3 for cancer incidence in obesity and type 2 diabetes. About 10 % of the excess mortality in patients with these two conditions may be attributed to death from cancer. However, a coincidence of type 2 diabetes and obesity or additional traits of the metabolic syndrome may further increase the risk. Low-grade inflammation of adipose tissue-the common soil for the development of different traits of the metabolic syndrome-appears to be the most promising candidate for a causal relationship between cancer and the metabolic syndrome, too. Adipose tissue can produce different cytokines and hormones which influence cancer promotion and progression. On the other hand, there are concerns about an increase of cancer risk by commonly prescribed drugs against different traits of metabolic syndrome such as hyperlipidaemia or hyperglycaemia. The lack of prospective studies in this field of research is a major concern and forestalls a convincing evaluation.