Relationship Between Obesity, Menopausal Status and Breast Cancer Risks - A Review

Abstract

“Breast cancer” is of the leading malignant type of neoplasia responsible for causing high rate of mortality and morbidity. There are many risk factors of “breast cancer” but “obesity” and increased weight have been recognised as the principal risk factors as well as the prognostic factors causing “breast cancer” especially in “postmenopausal” female. “obesity” possess the complex association with “breast cancer” which varies in menopause status (“premenopausal” and “postmenopausal”) women. There are various hypotheses which have been proposed to demonstrate the interaction among “obesity” and high risks of “breast cancer” in “postmenopausal” females. The specific “obesity”-associated factors”, such as leptin, insulin, and inflammatory mediators, are also involved in influencing the progression of “breast cancer” and its prognosis independent of the estrogen level and show their effects at a cellular level by interacting with estrogen signalling pathways. The adiposity level of before the menopause, is inversely interrelated to “breast cancer” risk, exhibiting the protective effect, however in “postmenopausal” females, predominantly in elderly women, the association is positively related to cancer, indicating “obesity” as a risk factor of “breast cancer”. There is found a positive association of higher levels of estrogen production in adipose tissue, consequently resulting in elevated levels of estradiol in systematic circulation, promoting “obesity” related breast carcinogenesis in in “postmenopausal” women. The expression of tumors also effect both progesterone and estrogen receptors. It can be concluded that relation of adiposity and menopausal status is protective effect in younger females (<35 years), before the menopause and negative effects promoting the cancer in older “postmenopausal” women. Therefore, the body composition and “obesity” are highest risk factors for the prognosis of “postmenopausal” breast carcinoma.