"The Role of Obesity in Cancer Survival and Recurrence" ed. by Margie Patlak and Sharyl J. Nass

This book explores the complex web of molecular mechanisms that underlie the obesity-cancer link, the ways to design future studies to acquire the information needed to guide patient care, what to advise cancer patients about weight loss, diet, exercise, and other measures to reduce their risk of cancer progression or recurrence and policy suggestions related to research, education, and dissemination of the findings on obesity and cancer.

This rvolume reviews latest clinical evidence on the obesity-cancer link and the molecular mechanisms that might explain that link. Clinicians, researchers, cancer survivors, and policy makers also discussed potential interventions to counter the effects of obesity on cancer, and research and policy measures needed to stem the rising tide of cancer mortality predicted by an increasingly overweight and older population worldwide.
Recent research suggests that obesity and excess weight can play a prominent role in the incidence and progression of various cancers. Obesity results from an energy imbalance - that is, energy intake that is higher than energy expenditure - could also influence the growth of cancers.

Contents
INTRODUCTION
OVERVIEW OF THE OBESITY–CANCER LINK
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS
Estrogen
Insulin
Other Molecular Mechanisms
Inflammation
The Role of Stem Cells
The Role of Diet
CLINICAL EVIDENCE OF THE OBESITY LINK TO CANCER
Breast Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Colon Cancer
CLINICAL STUDY DESIGN ISSUES
Study Measures
Confounders
Generalizability of Study Results
Improper Analyses
Study Design Suggestions
Exercise Interventions
POTENTIAL TREATMENTS TO COUNTER EFFECTS OF OBESITY
Weight Loss/Diet Changes
Exercise
Exercise Versus or in Combination with Diet and/or Weight Loss
Surgery for Weight Loss
Dugs Targeting Cancer-Causing or Cancer-Promoting Obesity Mechanisms
Metformin
Rapamycin and Other mTOR Inhibitors
Stem Cell Pathway Inhibitors
Drugs That Target Estrogen or Its Receptor
CHALLENGES IN STUDYING OR INDUCING LIFESTYLE CHANGES IN PATIENTS
Physical Limitations or Time Constraints of Cancer Survivors
Long-Term Adherence to Diet or Exercise Plans
Costs of Frequent Sessions
WHAT TO ADVISE CANCER PATIENTS
Is There Enough Evidence?
Research and Clinical Tools—Needs and Opportunities
POLICY SUGGESTIONS
Research Policies
Public- and Private-Sector Policies
Education and Dissemination
WRAPPING UP
REFERENCES
APPENDIXES
A Acronyms
B Workshop Agenda
C Speaker Biographies