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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Gastroenterology. 2013 Dec 6;146(2):357–373. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.11.051

Figure 3. Obesity-induced Factors Contribute to Colorectal Carcinogenesis Mechanisms by which obesity could contribute to development of CRC.

Figure 3

Western-style diets lead to increased adiposity and changes in the microbiota, to adapt to the increased energy supply. Adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin could allow for establishment of a tumor microenvironment. In obese individuals, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance lead to low-grade systemic inflammation, which promotes tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis and reduces apoptosis. These mechanisms are likely to vary among individuals and little is known about their interactions.