OBESITY, ADIPOKINES AND BREAST CANCER: UNRAVELING THE MOLECULAR LINKS

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has been increasing at an alarming rate in several developed anddeveloping countries, reaching pandemic proportions over the last two decades. This growing incidencehas deep clinical implications, since obesity is a key driver of serious health problems, such as type IIdiabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and cancer. Indeed, prospective epidemiological studieshave shown that excessive adiposity strongly influences risk, prognosis and progression of multiplemalignancies, including breast cancer. Several hypotheses have been proposed to unravel the direct linkbetween obesity and breast cancer and these include hyperinsulinemia, estrogen signaling, inflammationand adipokine expression. Certainly, the revised concept of adipose tissues from an inert depot for bodyenergy to endocrine and immunologically active organs placed particular emphasis on the potentialrole of adipokines in various biological processes and metabolic pathways. Acting through endocrine,paracrine and autocrine mechanisms, adipokines, that are not only produced by adipocytes but also bystromal cells, macrophages and cancer cells, impact the development and progression of obesity-relatedcancers. In this talk, I will present an overview of the clinical and experimental evidences highlightingthe adipokines leptin and adiponectin, as the most important molecular mediators of obesity-breastcancer axis.