Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD, assistant professor, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, discusses inflammation, obesity and cancer.

De Jonghe says when a cancer patient is obese and undergoing treatment, it can create a “perfect inflammatory storm.” Current research is looking to see which pathways are affected by obesity and cancer and if any of the inflammatory responses overlap.

Videos

Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD, on Inflammation, Obesity and Cancer

Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD, assistant professor, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, discusses the connections between nutrition and cancer.

Nutrition still needs to be studied further to understand how it impacts the way that the body works, De Jonghe says. It is known that obesity can contribute to a person’s risk of cancer, but it is unknown if there are particular dietary components that lead to an increased risk of cancer.

De Jonghe says certain nutritional deficiencies impede the body’s own defenses to repair damaged cells, which can lead to cancer. Diets that are associated with decreasing the risk of cancer are usually high in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that can combat oxidizing substances in the body, which are carcinogenic.

Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD, assistant professor, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, discusses obesity and cancer prognosis, discusses the connections between nutrition and cancer.

Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD, Discusses the Link Between Nutrition and Cancer

Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD, assistant professor, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, discusses obesity and cancer prognosis.

On a population level, obesity is growing at a rate greater than ever before. Organizations such as the National Cancer Institute or American Cancer Society say obesity somehow contributes in a negative way to 25% of all cancers. This negative impact can be in the form of a direct risk factor or a metabolic disturbance that can either increase the risk for cancer at onset or increase the rate of progression of a solid tumor.

Researchers are trying to determine the mechanisms behind how obesity leads to an increased risk of cancer. Researchers are examining what is circulating in patients’ bloodstreams and intracellular signals that are causing the unlimited proliferation of cells.

Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD

Articles

Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD, on Inflammation, Obesity and Cancer

Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD, Discusses the Link Between Nutrition and Cancer

Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD, Discusses Obesity and Cancer Prognosis