The adipocyte-released hormone-like cytokine/adipokine leptin behaves differently in
obesity compared to its functions in the normal healthy state. In obese individuals, elevated
leptin levels act as a pro-inflammatory adipokine and are associated with certain types of
cancers. Further, a growing body of evidence suggests that higher circulating leptin
concentrations and/or elevated expression of leptin receptors (Ob-R) in tumors may be poor
prognostic factors. Although the underlying pathological mechanisms of leptin's association …