Adiponectin: a link between obesity and cancer

Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2006 Aug;15(8):917-31. doi: 10.1517/13543784.15.8.917.

Abstract

Adiponectin, an insulin-sensitising hormone produced by adipocytes, has direct antidiabetic, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic properties. Circulating adiponectin levels are lower in obesity, a disease state that is associated with certain malignancies. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that adiponectin may have an important protective role in carcinogenesis. There is also evidence that at least some, if not most, cancer cell types express adiponectin receptors; thus adiponectin may act on tumour cells directly by binding and activating adiponectin receptors and downstream signalling pathways. Through its antiangiogenic properties, and also possibly through other mechanisms regulating cell proliferation discussed in this review, adiponectin may prove to be an effective novel anticancer agent. Large association and prospective studies to assess adiponectin levels in relation to risk from cancer, as well as mechanistic studies to prove adiponectin's role in the development of malignancies, and interventional trials to address potential roles of adiponectin in cancer pathogenesis and therapeutics are needed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adiponectin / blood*
  • Adiponectin / metabolism
  • Adiponectin / pharmacology
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / blood
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / blood*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / blood
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / blood
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / metabolism
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / blood*
  • Neoplasms / etiology
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Obesity / blood*
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / pathology
  • Receptors, Adiponectin
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Risk Factors
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • ADIPOR1 protein, human
  • ADIPOR2 protein, human
  • Adiponectin
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Receptors, Adiponectin
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I