Obesity, gastrointestinal cancer and the role of visceral fat

Malignancy of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is over-represented amongst obesity-induced cancer, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. A recent review has provided an excellent framework for further research and effectively summarised the obesity related pathogenesis of colon, gastric, pancreatic and oesophageal malignancy. In this report we discuss in detail the role of insulin resistance (IR), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, inflammation, adipokines and intestinal microbiota to obesity related GI cancer and highlight the importance of visceral, rather than overall adiposity.