What is the aim of the research?
Studies have shown that people who are overweight and obese are more likely than those who are not to develop cancer. When obesity is present the risk of cancer of the colon, gastric cardia, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, oesophagus and kidney are increased. The aim of this research is to understand how this happens. What is it about the metabolic characteristics of obesity that causes specific cancers to develop? Understanding this is critical in enabling effective ways to screen for and to prevent and treat the cancers that develop in overweight and obese people.

What is the hypothesis of the research?
The reasons for the increased risk of cancer in obese people are poorly understood and may vary depending on the type of cancer. Obese people have different levels of circulating metabolites in their blood in comparison to people who are not obese. Previous research suggests that changes in the levels of various metabolites in the blood that occurs in obesity is important. Metabolites are sources of fuel and building blocks essential for cells and tissues. Indeed, research shows that some of these metabolites stimulate cancer cell growth in laboratory experiments. Therefore, our hypothesis is that obese people are more likely to develop cancer due to the exposure of the body’s cells to altered levels of certain circulating metabolites.