RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Larger organ size caused by obesity is a mechanism for higher cancer risk
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.07.27.223529
DO 10.1101/2020.07.27.223529
A1 Haley Grant
A1 Yifan Zhang
A1 Lu Li
A1 Yan Wang
A1 Satomi Kawamoto
A1 Sophie Pénisson
A1 Daniel F. Fouladi
A1 Shahab Shayesteh
A1 Alejandra Blanco
A1 Saeed Ghandili
A1 Eva Zinreich
A1 Jefferson S. Graves
A1 Seyoun Park
A1 Scott Kern
A1 Jody Hooper
A1 Alan L. Yuille
A1 Elliot K Fishman
A1 Linda Chu
A1 Cristian Tomasetti
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/07/29/2020.07.27.223529.abstract
AB Obesity increases significantly cancer risk in various organs. Although this has been recognized for decades, the mechanism through which this happens has never been explained. Here, we show that obese people (BMI ≥30) have on average 55% (95%CI: 46%-66%), 68% (95%CI: 59%-76%), and 39% (95%CI: 29%-49%) larger kidneys, liver, and pancreas, respectively. We also find a significant linear relationship between the increase in organ volume and the increase in cancer risk (P-value<10−12). These results provide a mechanism explaining why obese individuals have higher cancer risk in several organs: the larger the organ volume the more cells at risk of becoming cancerous. These findings are important for a better understanding of the effects that obesity has on cancer risk and, more generally, for the development of better preventive strategies to limit the mortality caused by obesity.Competing Interest StatementUnder a license agreement between Thrive Earlier Detection and the Johns Hopkins University, C.T. and the University are entitled to royalty distributions. C.T. is also a paid consultant to Bayer AG and Johnson & Johnson. These arrangements have been reviewed and approved by the Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.