The study showed that while none of the individual features of metabolic syndrome was strong enough to be considered responsible for the onset of breast cancer, of the 210 postmenopausal patients with breast cancer, 30 percent showed association with metabolic syndrome when analyzed 'overall'. Of this subset of patients many had three or more features of metabolic syndrome. Patients were also asked to fill out questionnaires characterizing their physical activity, food intake, tobacco use, alcohol abuse and family history of the disease.

The researchers hypothosized that the unsettling of the hormonal arrangement in postmenopausal women, along with an increase in weight gain, particularly around the central portion of the body, may favor hormone-dependent cell proliferation, which drives the inception of tumors.

"The involvement of each component of the metabolic syndrome should be further characterized, but it is likely they contribute to increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women by multiple interacting mechanisms," said Dr. Giordano.

"These findings might have important clinical implications because they could be the basis for a breast cancer prevention strategy based on adjustments in lifestyle with physical activity intensification and a healthy diet."

Source: The Cancer Research Center in Mercogliano