Vol 5, No 3 (2009)
Review paper
Published online: 2009-05-15
Metabolic syndrome - important cancer risk factor
Onkol. Prak. Klin 2009;5(3):99-102.
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome is defined as a combination of lipids disorders and cardiovascular risk factors: abdominal
obesity, insulin resistance, arterial hypertension or high normal blood pressure. The positive relationships
between majority of components of metabolic syndrome and development of some types of
cancer was shown in several studies. This fact is often forgotten in our daily medical practice. The crucial
mechanisms of oncogenesis in patients with metabolic syndrome include mitogenic influence of insulin
with induction of cell proliferation, its pathological growth and differentation. It is also well known that insulin
acts as apoptosis inhibitor preventing the destruction of neoplastic cells. Furthermore abdominal obesity
was shown to be an important risk factor of carcinogenesis. Its pathogenic action is based on active
peptides and proteins relisae which are linked with the atherosclerosis, inflammation, endothelium dysfunction
and oncogenesis. Therefore treatment of metabolic syndrome as a prevention of some types of
cancer should concentrate on improvement in insulin sensitivity by means of body mass reduction, increased
physical activity, aprpopriate full of fibers diet, natural antyoxidants and also early administration
of metformine. Patients with metabolic syndrom, as the population with significantly increased risk of cancer,
should be includedd in dedicated prevention programmas.
Keywords: metabolic syndromeabdominal obesitycancer
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