Metabolic Pathways in Cancer Prevention and Therapy: Focus on Obesity-Driven Mechanisms
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: cancer; cancer nutrition; gastrointestinal cancer; masld; liver steatosis; metabolic sydrome; obesity; visceral adiposity; non-invasive liver fibrosis scores
Interests: cancer; cancer stem cells; intestinal epithelium; nuclear hormone receptors; stem cells; thyroid hormones
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Obesity is a well-established, modifiable risk factor for cancer, increasing both incidence and mortality. Its impact reflects a complex interplay between excess adiposity and metabolic, inflammatory, and hormonal disturbances that can promote tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. Although numerous circulating factors and molecular alterations have been identified, the key mechanisms linking obesity to carcinogenesis remain only partially understood.
This Special Issue focuses on studies investigating biological alterations during cancer development, with particular emphasis on nuclear hormone receptors—central regulators of lipid and glucose metabolism, energy homeostasis, and inflammatory responses. By integrating nutritional, metabolic, and hormonal signals, these receptors represent critical nodes through which diet and obesity can modulate cancer risk and tumor behavior.
We welcome research examining how dietary patterns, specific nutrients, and lifestyle interventions influence metabolic pathways and nuclear receptor signaling, ultimately contributing to cancer prevention or serving as adjunctive therapeutic strategies. Both mechanistic and translational studies aimed at identifying at-risk populations and proposing innovative nutritional interventions are strongly encouraged.
Dr. Lucilla Crudele
Dr. Michelina Plateroti
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- cancer prediction
- cancer prevention
- hormones
- obesity
- liver steatosis
- mediterranean diet
- nuclear hormone receptors
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