Women who have been overweight for a long time face nearly double the risk of developing uterine cancer, as concluded by a new international scientific study involving Greek scientists from the diaspora.
The researchers, led by Dr. Emma Hazelwood of the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, who published their findings in the medical journal «BMC Medicine,» analyzed data from approximately 120,000 women from various countries (the UK, the U.S., Belgium, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Australia), of whom 13,000 had been diagnosed with uterine cancer.
The analysis found that for every five additional body mass index (BMI) units, the risk of endometrial cancer increases by 88%, meaning it nearly doubles. This cancer—the most common gynecological cancer in developed countries—is one of the cancers most closely linked to obesity.
Obesity increases the risk of this specific cancer through hormones. According to the study, two hormones in particular—insulin and testosterone—increase the risk of endometrial cancer. In the future, there may be pharmacological interventions to regulate the levels of these hormones in overweight women at high risk for cancer. For example, a common antidiabetic drug, such as metformin, could lower hormone levels and, consequently, reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.
Ms. Hazelwood stated that «The links between obesity and endometrial cancer are well known, but our study is one of the largest to investigate why this happens at the molecular level. Our goal is to conduct further research to see how we can use this information to help reduce the risk of cancer in people who are obese.».
«We already know that being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing 13 different types of cancer. To reduce this risk, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet and staying physically active,» said Dr. Julie Sharp of the British cancer research organization Cancer Research UK.
Two scientists of Greek descent participated in the study: Niki Dimou of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (International Agency for Research on Cancer) in Lyon, France, and Dimitris Pournaras of Southmead Hospital in Bristol, UK.
