Advances in Obesity-Linked Breast Cancer Research

Dear Colleagues,

The obesity epidemic is a multifaceted health concern that currently affects ~70% of the US population. Its association with breast cancer is attracting growing attention from researchers. Recent estimates suggest an appalling 12% increase in breast cancer risk with every 5kg/m² increase in BMI, accompanied by a 35–40% higher risk of recurrence and a poorer survival rate. In addition, obese and overweight patients are more likely to present with larger tumors and incidence of metastases than patients with normal body weight. At the cellular level, the microenvironment of obesity-associated breast tumors is marked by endocrine deregulation, adipocyte hypertrophy, hypoxia, and chronic inflammation, factors that distinctly affect both response and resistance to therapy. As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise globally, understanding its intricate relationship with breast cancer’s development, progression, and response to treatment has become paramount. The convergence of these two complex conditions presents unique challenges and opportunities that warrant dedicated exploration.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in the field, encompassing a broad spectrum of topics ranging from molecular mechanisms to clinical implications. We warmly invite authors to submit original research articles, reviews, and prospective articles that shed light on important aspects of obesity-associated breast cancer, such as the epidemiology of obesity and breast cancer risk, molecular pathways in obesity leading to the initiation and progression of breast cancer, the impact of obesity on the breast tumor microenvironment and immune responses, and novel therapeutic strategies targeting obesity-associated pathways in breast cancer and treatment resistance.

We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Dipali Sharma
Guest Editor

Dr. Ashutosh Yende
Co-Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• breast cancer
• obesity
• tumor microenvironment
• inflammation
• therapy resistance
• immunotherapy
• adipocytes
• BMI
• weight loss