Andrew Dannenberg

Andrew Dannenberg is the preeminent researcher linking obesity, adipose tissue inflammation, and cancer risk and outcomes. His laboratory characterized the adipose tissue crown-like structures (CLS) around dying adipocytes as markers of metabolic inflammation in obese patients, associated with increased cancer risk and aggressive tumor biology. He demonstrated that obesity-associated inflammation in breast adipose tissue promotes local estrogen synthesis via aromatase upregulation, increasing breast cancer risk. His landmark translational studies connected metabolic syndrome, adipose dysfunction, and cancer biology across multiple tumor types.