Research: SAKAI and COLLEAGUES,

Listed in Issue 261

Abstract

SAKAI and COLLEAGUES, 1. Hiroyasu Sakai, Yohei Shirakami, Masahito Shimizu, Department of Gastroenterology/Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan review the detailed molecular mechanisms that link obesity to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in obese individuals.

Background

Obesity and its related metabolic disorders are serious health problems worldwide, and lead to various health-related complications, including cancer. Among human cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies affected by obesity. Therefore, obesity and its related disorders might be a key target for the prevention of HCC.

Methodology

Recently, new research indicates that the molecular abnormalities associated with obesity, including insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia, chronic inflammation, adipokine imbalance, and oxidative stress, are possible molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of obesity-related hepatocarcinogenesis.

Results

Green tea catechins and branched-chain amino acids, both of which are classified as nutraceutical agents, have been reported to prevent obesity-related HCC development by improving metabolic abnormalities. The administration of acyclic retinoid, a pharmaceutical agent, reduced the incidence of HCC in obese and diabetic mice, and was also associated with improvements in insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. In this article, we review the detailed molecular mechanisms that link obesity to the development of HCC in obese individuals.

Conclusion

The authors also summarize recent evidence from experimental and clinical studies using either nutraceutical or pharmaceutical agents, and suggest that nutraceutical and pharmaceutical approaches targeting metabolic abnormalities might be a promising strategy to prevent the development of obesity-related HCC.

References

Sakai H1, Shirakami Y1, Shimizu M1. Chemoprevention of obesity-related liver carcinogenesis by using pharmaceutical and nutraceutical agents. World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7 2016. 22(1):394-406. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i1.394.

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