過氧小體增殖活化受體(peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors, PPARs)屬於核激素受體超級家族的成員，PPARs主要的生理作用，包括脂質代謝、細胞增殖、分化、胰島素敏感性與發炎訊息等。證據顯示，PPARs與代謝症候群及其併發症之問有相當的因果關係，包括肥胖、第2型糖尿病與冠心病，且與癌症關係密切。調控PRARs的藥物，如PRARα與PPARγ激活劑，臨床上分別用於改善高三酸甘油酯血症與胰島素阻抗，對代謝症候群及其相關併發症有正面意義。最近的研究指出，激活PPARs能抑制發炎訊息傳遞，因而減緩癌化病程，唯仍需更多的支持證據；但無論如何，多瞭解癌症、代謝症候群與PPARs之問細胞生理及代謝作用的關聯性，對於癌症與代謝症候群及其相關併發症的預防與治療，是有正面的意義。

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors are members of nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. PPARs play an important role in biological functions including lipid metabolism, cell proliferation, differentiation, insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory signaling. Growing evidence shows that PPARs have a causative relationship with the metabolic syndrome and its related complications including obesity, T2DM, and CHD, and even with cancer. The PPARα and PPARγ agonists are clinic targets for hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance, respectively, and drugs that modulate these receptors have been proved to improve metabolic syndrome and its related complications. Recently, studies have shown that the activation of PPARs may inhibit carcinogenesis by downregulating inflammatory signaling, although more evidences are needed. However, a better understanding of diverse range of physiological processes and the relationship among cancer, metabolic syndrome and PPARs may be helpful in elucidating more preventive avenues to manage cancer and metabolic syndrome and its related complications.