Variantes genéticas asociadas con la obesidad y el cáncer colorrectal en América Latina

Abstract

Obesity and colorectal cancer are public health problems worldwide, especially in developing regions such as Latin America. The increase in the incidence and/or prevalence of these pathologies in the population is attributed to environmental, genetic and metabolic factors, which is why they are called NCDs (chronic noncommunicable diseases). This literature review aims to analyze the most relevant genetic variants associated with these diseases in South America, in order to elucidate the key metabolic processes of obesity and colorectal cancer in Latin American populations, involved in the development of chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, metabolic dysregulation, promoting carcinogenesis. Research has shown that certain variants in our genes, called polymorphisms, can increase the risk of developing these pathologies. Polymorphisms in genes such as FTO, LEP, LEPR, SMAD7 and APC have been associated with obesity and colorectal cancer. In addition, these genes control signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, JAK/STAT and TGF-β, which are crucial in the regulation of processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Consequently, biomedical research has focused on understanding the interaction between genetic variants and environmental factors considering the genetic diversity in Latin American populations due to lineage mixing. Therefore, in this review, by describing gene polymorphisms associated with obesity and colorectal cancer, we would have a baseline that could contribute to the development of future research aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases in Latin American populations.