Obesity, Adipokines and Cancer: An Update
Increasing epidemiological evidence has shown that a number of other adipokines are also involved in obesity-related cancers. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) or lipocalin-2, for example, was overexpressed in breast, gastric, oesophagus and brain cancers. Recently, lipocalin-2 was also noted to be associated with tumour invasiveness, possibly attributed to its ability to scavenge iron into cancer cells. Resistin, another pro-inflammatory adipokine, was found to be present at higher levels in advanced nonsmall cell lung, colon, breast and prostate cancers. A recent meta-analysis also suggested a consistent positive association between resistin and colorectal cancers, although the number of studies was limited.
Other Adipokines and Cancers
Increasing epidemiological evidence has shown that a number of other adipokines are also involved in obesity-related cancers. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) or lipocalin-2, for example, was overexpressed in breast, gastric, oesophagus and brain cancers. Recently, lipocalin-2 was also noted to be associated with tumour invasiveness, possibly attributed to its ability to scavenge iron into cancer cells. Resistin, another pro-inflammatory adipokine, was found to be present at higher levels in advanced nonsmall cell lung, colon, breast and prostate cancers. A recent meta-analysis also suggested a consistent positive association between resistin and colorectal cancers, although the number of studies was limited.
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