The relationship between where fat is stored on the body and risk of cancer is not clear. We are excited to be funded by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) to investigate this. We hope this work will eventually lead to better strategies to prevent cancer for people who have a high risk of the disease.– Dr Emma Vincent
Background
Obesity, characterised by higher amounts of body fat, is increasing worldwide. There is now strong evidence that having more body fat increases a person’s risk of developing certain types of cancers. Unfortunately, attempts to slow the increase in obesity in the population have so far failed and it continues to increase. Because of this, more people will continue to develop cancers in the coming years because of having excess body fat. To prevent this, new approaches to understand the relationship between obesity and cancer are needed. Fat is stored in different places in the body. For example, some people carry more fat around their middle (i.e., have an “apple-shaped” body type), whereas others carry it lower (i.e., have a “pear-shaped” body type). Even though the importance of obesity in causing cancer has been established, we do not know enough about the part played by where body fat is stored. Recent research has highlighted that where a person’s body fat is stored can affect their risk of developing heart disease. However, whether where a person’s body fat is stored can affect their risk of cancer is currently unknown. Understanding this would allow us to design better ways to prevent cancer for people who have a high risk of the disease.
Aims and objectives
Our goal is to test if there is a link between where body fat is stored and risk of cancer. Our proposed research project has three main aims: (i) To understand how where a person’s body fat is stored affects their risk of developing cancer. (ii) To investigate how this might be happening – by looking at changes to markers in the blood related to where a person’s body fat is stored. (iii) To investigate when, across a person’s life, having excess body fat and where it is stored is most likely to affect their risk of cancer.
How it will be done
We will use two large studies of people in the UK: (i) UK Biobank – This study has measured the location of fat in ~50,000 people. (ii) Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) – This study has measured the location of fat in ~7,000 people at several stages of their life. We will also use a scientific method called Mendelian randomization that uses variation in human genes to study factors causing disease. Importantly, our approach will enable us to assign cause and effect more confidently; in this instance, can where fat is stored cause cancer?
Potential impact
This research could improve the lives of people at risk of obesity-related cancer in at least 3 ways: (i) If we know whether fat in a particular place can cause a particular cancer, we could identify people most at risk. (ii) If we can identify those most at risk, tailored ways to prevent cancer can be developed. (iii) If we know how fat in a particular place causes cancer, through changes in the blood, research can focus on preventing these changes to lower the risk.