Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41872334›Full record

ArticleBJC reports2026

Obesity-associated gene mutations across cancer types: a pan-cancer analysis of TCGA data.

Gaetana Porcelli, Rosario Nicola Brancaccio, Sebastiano Di Bella, Caterina D'Accardo, Francesco Orilio, Vincenzo Davide Pantina, Chiara Modica, Francesco Verona, Paola Bianca, Cesare Morgante and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BJC reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Gaetana Porcelli *Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Rosario Nicola Brancaccio *Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Sebastiano Di Bella *Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (MePreCC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Caterina D'AccardoDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (MePreCC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Francesco OrilioDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (MePreCC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Vincenzo Davide PantinaDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (MePreCC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Chiara ModicaDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (MePreCC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Francesco VeronaDepartment of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Paola BiancaDepartment of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Cesare MorganteCatholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Simone Di FrancoDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (MePreCC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Miriam GaggianesiDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (MePreCC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Veronica VeschiDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Giorgio StassiDepartment of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (MePreCC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Alice TurdoDepartment of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. alice.turdo@unipa.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6152-4903
Matilde TodaroDepartment of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. matilde.todaro@unipa.it.

Funding

European Union European Union - NextGenerationEU initiative under the Italian Ministry of University and Research as a part of the PNRR - M4C2-l1.3 Project PE00000019 'HEAL ITALIA' CUP B73C22001250006Fondazione AIRC per la ricerca sul cancro ETS 30306Ministero della Salute PSN2015, 6.2 (CUP176J17000470001)Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca PRIN (20223NY37M)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObesity is a recognized risk factor for numerous cancers. Although several biological mechanisms have been proposed to explain obesity-associated carcinogenesis, the extent to which excess adiposity influences tumor genomic profiles remains incompletely understood. In particular, whether obesity-related selective pressures shape cancer-specific mutational landscapes is still underexplored.

methodsA pan-cancer analysis of non-synonymous somatic mutations across 14 tumor types using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) has been conducted. Body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis was analyzed as a continuous variable. Associations between gene mutations and BMI were assessed using logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, and tumor mutational burden, with false discovery rate correction. Genes were prioritized using a two-step ranking strategy based on mutation frequency and regression strength. Functional inactivation, exon-level mutation distribution, and Gene Ontology enrichment analyses were performed for significantly BMI-associated genes.

resultsIn particular, bladder urothelial cancer (BLCA) resulted as the most frequently mutated neoplasia in association with higher body mass index. Among Eighty-six genes significantly associated with BMI in BLCA, a prioritized set of ten genes (BRCA2, DNAH9, GRIA4, PLXNA4, UNC13C, FCGBP, SF3B1, ELP1, NES, TRERF1) has been selected for further analyses. Overweight and obese patients exhibited distinct BMI-specific exon-level mutational patterns and concurrent deleterious mutations across multiple candidate genes. Functional inactivation analysis suggested loss-of-function mechanisms in most top-ranked genes, while Gene Ontology (GO) analysis highlighted deregulation of extracellular matrix-related pathways. DISCUSSION: These findings support a role for obesity in shaping the genomic landscape of tumors, highlighting the importance of integrating clinical parameters such as BMI into genomic studies to determine the potential impact of obesity on tumor evolution, heterogeneity, and treatment response.

Identifiers

PMID41872334
PMCPMC13009199

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.