Why Does Obesity Impact Breast Cancer?
Summary by Michaela Cummings, BS
We’ve known for a while that obesity is associated with breast cancer risk and outcomes, including less effective treatment response and a higher likelihood of recurrence and metastasis. However, the why hasn’t always been clear.
To help answer this question, a recent study focused on two hormones produced by fat tissue, called visfatin and resistin, and their relationship to breast cancer. This research helps shed light on what may be happening behind the scenes and why it could matter for the future of breast cancer care.
How These Hormones May Influence Cancer Behavior
We often think of body fat as just stored energy, but it is actually metabolically active and releases signaling molecules and hormones, often called adipokines. In a healthy environment, these signals help regulate metabolism. However, in cases of obesity, the body may produce higher levels of certain hormones, including:
Visfatin: Involved in energy production and cell growth
Resistin: Linked to insulin resistance and inflammation
Research suggests that when breast cancer cells are exposed to higher levels of these hormones, they may use them in ways that support cancer progression. According to the study, these hormones may play a role in several key processes:
Promoting Growth and Survival: They may send signals that encourage cancer cells to divide more rapidly, supporting tumor growth.
Encouraging Metastasis: These hormones make cancer cells more mobile, allowing them to break away from the original tumor and travel to other parts of the body.
Treatment Resistance: They may also contribute to reduced sensitivity to certain treatments, meaning therapies like chemotherapy or hormone-blocking treatments may be less effective in some cases.
Why This Matters for Patients
It can feel concerning to learn that naturally occurring hormones may influence cancer behavior, but this is also an important and exciting area of ongoing research. By better understanding how visfatin and resistin may support cancer growth and survival, researchers are working toward developing therapies that target these pathways and potentially improve treatment outcomes.
What Can You Do Now?
Outside of the context of cancer treatment, this research reinforces a powerful message: metabolic health matters. Supporting metabolic health through lifestyle factors like maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, and monitoring blood sugar may help create a less favorable environment for cancer progression while also supporting overall health.
The Bottom Line
We are beginning to better understand the biological pathways that may help explain the link between obesity and breast cancer. This growing knowledge may help guide more personalized approaches to prevention and treatment that consider the whole person, including their metabolic health.
Article Cited: Wang YY, Hung AC, Lo S, Yuan SSF. Adipcytokines visfatin and resistin in breast cancer: clinical relevance, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic potential. Cancer Letters. 2021:498(1):229-239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2020.10.045
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