The University of South Alabama’s (USA) Mitchell Cancer Institute is using a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to investigate a link between obesity and colorectal cancer (CRC) progression.
The two-year, $616,000 Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program Idea award will allow cancer researchers to look into a possible molecular-level link.
“With emerging evidence supporting that the disease is often detected at more advanced stages in young adults, there is an urgent and unmet need to identify factors that regulate CRC and elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms to develop targeted therapeutic approaches for patients,” Chandrani Sarkar, Ph.D. said.
CRC is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Mortality rates among adults under 50 are rising at an alarming rate, researchers said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overweight and obesity are associated with a higher risk of developing 13 types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. Researchers believe excess visceral fat disrupts normal body functions, which can promote abnormal cell growth and increase the risk of cancer. However, the molecular links are not fully understood.
The new study will aim to look into the role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptors in obesity-induced CRC progression. Key functions of NPY include regulating appetite and energy balance, stress response, cardiovascular health, and immune modulation.
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