Takayuki Masaki and Hironobu Yoshimatsu

Department of Internal Medicine 1, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, 1-1 Idaigaoka,Yufu-Hasama, Oita, 879-5593 Japan.

Abstract

A great amount of literature has demonstrated a connection between obesity, visceral fat and the metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Lately, there has been an increased interest in understanding if cancer is related to obesity and visceral fat accumulation. The prevalence of both obesity and cancer are increasing and there has been keen interest in the relationship between visceral adiposity and the biology of cancers. White adipose tissue (WAT) provides a limitless capacity for triglyceride storage vital for survival. The concurrent rise in insulin, glucose, and lipids during meals stimulates triglyceride formation and storage in WAT. WAT is also recognized as an endocrine organ that secretes multiple cytokines such as leptin and adiponectin. In addition, leptin and adiponectin have been adipocytokines that attracted attention for cancer research. Thus, in this review, we will describe recent progress made in obesity, visceral adiposity, leptin and adiponectin in the involvement of various cancers.