Cancer risks in patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome: integrative analysis of studies published between 2020 and 2024
análise integrativa de estudos publicados entre 2020 e 2024
Keywords:
Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases, Hormonal Changes, Chronic Inflammation, OncologyAbstract
Objective: Obesity and metabolic syndrome are important modifiable risk factors for cancer. This integrative review included five meta-analyses published between 2020 and 2024, identified in the PubMed and BVS databases. The results demonstrated a consistent association between obesity, metabolic syndrome, and an increased risk of neoplasms, especially colorectal, endometrial, liver, pancreatic, bladder, and breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The mechanisms involved include chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, hormonal changes, and metabolic dysfunctions. The conclusion is that metabolic assessment should be incorporated into cancer prevention and clinical management strategies, reinforcing the importance of obesity control in combating chronic noncommunicable diseases.
References
Hall KD, et al. Obesity—mechanisms, comorbidities, and management. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(24):2249-60.
GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators. Health effects of overweight and obesity in 195 countries over 25 years. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(1):13-27.
Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Vigitel Brasil 2023: Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2024.
Saklayen MG. The global epidemic of the metabolic syndrome. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2018;20(2):12.
Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA). Estimativa 2023: Incidência de Câncer no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: INCA; 2023.
Calle EE, Kaaks R. Overweight, obesity and cancer: epidemiological evidence and proposed mechanisms. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004;4(8):579-91.
Lauby-Secretan B, Scoccianti C, Loomis D, et al. Body Fatness and Cancer—Viewpoint of the IARC Working Group. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(8):794-8.
Iyengar NM, Gucalp A, Dannenberg AJ. Obesity-related inflammation and cancer: new directions for epidemiology. Cancer Prev Res. 2016;9(5):295-302.
Esposito K, Chiodini P, Colao A, Lenzi A, Giugliano D. Metabolic syndrome and risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2012;35(11):2402-11.
Whittemore R, Knafl K. The integrative review: updated methodology. J Adv Nurs. 2005;52(5):546-53.
Han F, Wu G, Zhang S, Zhang J, Zhao Y, Xu J. The association of metabolic syndrome and its components with the incidence and survival of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Biol Sci. 2021;17(2):487-97. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.52452. PMID: 33613107; PMCID: PMC7893592.
Goodarzi G, Mozaffari H, Raeisi T, Mehravar F, Razi B, Ghazi ML, et al. Metabolic phenotypes and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMC Cancer. 2022;22(1):89. doi: 10.1186/s12885-021-09149-w. PMID: 35062912; PMCID: PMC8781040.
Fontvieille E, Viallon V, Recalde M, Cordova R, Jansana A, Peruchet-Noray L, et al. Body mass index and cancer risk among adults with and without cardiometabolic diseases: evidence from the EPIC and UK Biobank prospective cohort studies. BMC Med. 2023;21(1):418. doi: 10.1186/s12916-023-03114-z. PMID: 37993940; PMCID: PMC10666332.
Tzelves L, Xenou D, Skolarikos A, Varkarakis I, Deliveliotis C, Terpos E, et al. Association of obesity and other anthropometric characteristics with bladder cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal cohort studies. J BUON. 2021;26(3):1040-55. PMID: 34268971.
Wang W, Wang X, Jiang Y, Guo Y, Fu P, He W, et al. Normal weight obesity, circulating biomarkers and risk of breast cancer: a prospective cohort study and meta-analysis. Br J Cancer. 2024;132(2):203-11. doi: 10.1038/s41416-024-02906-1. PMID: 39609539; PMCID: PMC11747320.
Silva DAS, et al. Obesidade e câncer de mama na pós-menopausa: revisão sistemática. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2021;24:e210018.
Johnson KE, et al. Obesity and prostate cancer: epidemiological overview. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2022;31(3):465-73.
Souza FIS, et al. Obesidade e risco de câncer ginecológico: revisão sistemática. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2020;66(6):765-72.
Lee JY, et al. Obesity and colorectal cancer: updated systematic review. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2023;38(5):89-99.
Smith U, et al. Adipose tissue inflammation and cancer progression. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2020;31(7):493-505.
Anderson AS, et al. Lifestyle and cancer prevention: population-based evidence. Nutrients. 2022;14(6):1235.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista de Divulgação Científica Sena Aires

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
-
Atribuição — Você deve dar o crédito apropriado, prover um link para a licença e indicar se mudanças foram feitas. Você deve fazê-lo em qualquer circunstância razoável, mas de nenhuma maneira que sugira que o licenciante apoia você ou o seu uso.
- Sem restrições adicionais — Você não pode aplicar termos jurídicos ou medidas de caráter tecnológico que restrinjam legalmente outros de fazerem algo que a licença permita.
