Figure 1.

The initiation and progression of BC by obese breast adipose-derived factors. Factors released by obese breast adipose tissue may operate as mutagens, for example by activating intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to DNA damage in normal breast epithelial cells and other inflammatory mediators. DNA damage may occur as a result of estrogen’s mitogenic actions, which can lead to replication stress and stress. Unresolved DNA damage, which is associated with mutagenesis and the onset of cancer, may result from increased DNA damage and possible estrogen-induced defective DNA repair. An obese breast adipose tissue microenvironment promotes BC proliferation, migration, and invasion by releasing inflammatory mediators, increasing leptin, decreasing adiponectin, and increasing estrogen levels. This figure is reproduced from Bhardwaj et al. [40] (Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)).