Current Perspectives on Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer

 Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic disturbances, including high body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, high blood pressure, rise in triglycerides, increased plasma glucose, and reduction in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, leading to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality along with an increased predisposition to other non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and certain cancers. Its incidence is on the rise in Western countries and is a risk factor for several common cancers. Although the individual components of metabolic syndrome are linked to cancer, studies showing a direct link between metabolic syndrome and cancer are limited. This review addresses the need to summarise the associated factors and mechanisms linking these two pathologies and to identify potential targets in therapy in patients with cancer and metabolic syndrome. Understanding this link would provide insight into the process of oncogenesis in patients with MetS. This chapter focuses on the biological and physiological alterations and specific factors associated with this process, including the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) pathway, estrogen signaling, visceral adiposity, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, aromatase activity, adipokinase production, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in these patients and their clinical implications in cancer therapy. New research is warranted in this area and should be systemically analyzed in all cancer types. A better understanding of this link will provide greater insight into the management of cancer patients by preventing metabolic syndrome and related alterations.

Keywords: Cancer, Metabolic syndrome.