Dr. Hudis Discusses Obesity and Breast Cancer

Clifford A. Hudis, MD, chief, Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, professor of medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, discusses obesity and its relation to breast cancer.

Hudis says there is an obesity problem in the United States. Obesity leads to a variety of general health issues including cardiac problems, endocrine problems, and cancer. It is believed that obesity will replace tobacco as the leading modifiable risk factor for many solid tumors.

A recent study presented at the Breast Cancer Symposium pointed out that there is an association between hormone-sensitive breast cancer and obesity. The study found that some of the inflammatory mediators that are generated in the fat tissue of obese patients are stimulants for the production of aromatase, and thereby, estrogen.

Hudis says that community oncologists should watch this space, because there will be new research projects focused on interventions to address the underlying pathophysiology.