Obesity hormone leptin: a new target in breast cancer?
Leptin is a multifunctional hormone produced mainly by the adipose tissue and involved in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. In addition, leptin can stimulate mitogenic and angiogenic processes in peripheral organs. Because leptin levels are elevated in obese individuals and excess body weight has been shown to increase breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, attempts have been made to evaluate whether leptin can promote breast cancer. Data obtained in cell and animal models and analyses of human breast cancer biopsies indeed suggest such an involvement. Furthermore, a recent report clearly shows that targeting leptin signaling may reduce mammary carcinogenesis. Thus, leptin should become a new attractive target in breast cancer.
Surmacz
Eva
E
Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. surmacz@temple.edu
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D015398:Signal Transduction
D020738:Leptin