Hyperplasia Functions as a Link Between Obesity and Cancer - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #obesity
- #cancer
- #hyperplasia
- Obesity is a well-established risk factor for several cancers, but the mechanisms are not fully understood.
- Organ size (liver, pancreas, kidneys) increases with higher BMI, raising the number of cells at risk of malignant transformation.
- A 5-unit BMI increase correlates with volume increases: 12% in liver, 9% in kidneys, and 7% in pancreas.
- Kidney enlargement is 61% due to hyperplasia (increase in cell number) and 39% due to hypertrophy (increase in cell size).
- Organ volume ratios relative to normal-weight adults strongly correlate with cancer risk, suggesting a doubling in organ volume doubles cancer risk.
- Hyperplasia increases the pool of cells susceptible to malignant transformation, complementing other obesity-cancer pathways like inflammation and metabolic dysregulation.