New insight into how excess belly fat may increase cancer risk

Conclusion This animal and laboratory study investigated the possible cellular relationship between excess body fat – specifically fat around the body organs – and cancer risk. It seems one key mechanism by which excess visceral fat could stimulate healthy cells to develop into cancerous ones could be through FGF2 levels. The researchers hope their study could pave the way for possible cancer prevention strategies by stopping FGF2 production in obese people with excess belly fat. They even go as far as suggesting that blocking FGF2 receptors could be one part of a treatment approach after a diagnosis of breast or skin cancer. But it's too early to speculate about the implications of this research. Early-stage animal and laboratory studies like this one are useful for better understanding mechanisms that occur at a cellular level. We don't know that this is the whole answer. Various genetic, health and lifestyle factors are likely to be play a combined role in the association between body fat and cancer development. Find out more about losing weight. Links To The Headlines How having a thicker waist raises your cancer risk: Belly fat releases proteins that fuel the growth of malignant cells, study finds. Mail Online, August 31 2017 Links To Science Chakraborty D, Benham V, Bullard B, et al. Fibroblast growth factor receptor is a mechanistic link between visceral adiposity and cancer. Oncogene. Published online August 7 2017
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cancer Source Type: news