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Leptin in Cancer: Epidemiology and Mechanisms

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Adipocytokines, Energy Balance, and Cancer

Part of the book series: Energy Balance and Cancer ((EBAC,volume 12))

Abstract

Obesity is now considered a risk factor for many cancers. In particular, the risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer is elevated in overweight/obese women. Leptin, an adipokine made in adipose tissue, may be a physiological link between cancer and obesity. Epidemiological studies in some cases report elevated leptin levels in women with breast cancer and expression of the leptin receptor (Ob-R) in breast tumors. In obese transgenic mice predisposed to breast cancer that were leptin or Ob-R deficient, no mammary tumors developed, while in similar transgenic mice with diet-induced obesity, mammary tumor latency was shortened, and leptin levels were correlated with body weight. In vitro studies consistently report leptin enhances in cell proliferation and cell signaling pathways such as STAT3/AKT/PI3K. Leptin has also been recently reported to enhance angiogenesis through VEGF and its receptor, VEGFR. Other recent studies show that leptin may promote inflammation in tumor cells as well as nearby stromal components and adipocytes. Further leptin may have effects on cancer stem cell populations promoting early stages of tumorigenesis. Leptin has also been shown to play roles in the development of hepatic, colorectal, ovarian, and endometrial cancers and in the development of aggressive prostate cancer. The development of Ob-R agonists and leptin analogues may help treat and/or prevent some cancers.

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Acknowledgments

This work supported by R01CA 157012 from the National Cancer Institute (MPC.) and the Hormel Foundation (MPC.) and R21CA153172 from the National Cancer Institute (MTK). We thank our many coworkers for their hard work and support over the years. We apologize in advance to those whose work we have not included due to page limitations and/or our oversight.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Hormel Institute-University of Minnesota, 801 16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN, 55912, USA

    Margot P. Cleary Ph.D.

  2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1600 NW 10th Avenue, Rosentiel Medical School Building Room 3123A, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Marta Torroella-Kouri Ph.D.

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  1. Margot P. Cleary Ph.D.
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  2. Marta Torroella-Kouri Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Margot P. Cleary Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Ofer Reizes

  2. Center for Science, Health and Society, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Nathan A. Berger

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Cleary, M.P., Torroella-Kouri, M. (2017). Leptin in Cancer: Epidemiology and Mechanisms. In: Reizes, O., Berger, N. (eds) Adipocytokines, Energy Balance, and Cancer. Energy Balance and Cancer, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41677-9_3

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