Chemotherapy response in obese mouse model with colorectal cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Canterbury following circulatory system diseases. Mortality from bowel cancer, or colorectal cancer (CRC), in Canterbury is similar to the national mortality rate (23.0-24.9 vs. 23.7 per 100,000). Nationally, CRC is the second major cause of death from cancer in men, after lung cancer, and the second most common cause of death from cancer in women, after breast cancer. Each year about 2000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with CRC and about 1000 die from it. Incidence and mortality of CRC differ between ethnicities, with Māori having significantly lower incidence and mortality, but also lower survival following diagnosis. Importantly, incidence rates of CRC in NZ are among the highest in the world. The risk of dying from colon cancer increases exponentially with age, and more than 90% of registered patients are over 50 years of age. Our New Zealand population is aging, and by the year 2051 it is estimated that the number of people over 65 years of age will have more than doubled to make up 25% of the population. Obesity is a major risk factor for CRC, and the prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly. In 2002/03, 1 in 3 adults were overweight, and 1 in 5 were obese.