Progress in Molecular Biological Mechanism of Endometrial Cancer Induced by Obesity

Ying CAO; Qian LIU; Dongyan CAO

doi:10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.16722

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Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae ›› 2026, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (4) : 758-766. DOI: 10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.16722

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Progress in Molecular Biological Mechanism of Endometrial Cancer Induced by Obesity

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Abstract

Obesity is recognized as a major risk factor for endometrial cancer,and its tumor-promoting mechanisms have drawn increasing attention in recent years.Current evidence highlights that obesity drives the initiation and progression of endometrial cancer through three core pathways—elevated estrogen levels,insulin resistance,and chronic inflammation—which form a malignant positive feedback loop.Furthermore,visceral and subcutaneous obesity differentially regulate adipokine secretion and metabolic microenvironments to impact the molecular subtypes,pathological features,and treatment responses of endometrial cancer.This review summarizes recent advances in the molecular mechanisms linking obesity and endometrial cancer,with a focus on adipokines,inflammatory signaling,estrogen metabolism,insulin resistance,and epigenetic regulation.The roles of the adipose-immune-metabolic axis in the initiation and progression of endometrial cancer are expounded.Future research should integrate multi-omics and tumor microenvironment analyses to develop precision therapeutic strategies based on obesity subtypes and epigenetic biomarkers,offering novel insights for clinical management of obesity-related endometrial cancer.

Key words

obesity / endometrial cancer / molecular mechanism / T-lymphocytes / gastrointestinal microbiome

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Ying CAO , Qian LIU , Dongyan CAO. Progress in Molecular Biological Mechanism of Endometrial Cancer Induced by Obesity[J]. Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae. 2026, 48(4): 758-766 https://doi.org/10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.16722

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