A systematic review on leptin's role in defining cancer: special emphasis on immunomodulation, inflammation, and therapeutic interventions

Abstract

Leptin, an adipokine related to obesity, is mainly known for its role in regulating energy homeostasis and appetite by working via the leptin receptor. Recently, different groups have demonstrated that apart from adipocytes, specific cell types associated with cancer and tumor microenvironments express leptin and leptin receptors. This tumor microenvironment-associated leptin-leptin receptor signaling contributes to the different hallmarks of cancer, ranging from inflammatory changes to metastasis. Eventually, it has also been reported that high serum level of leptin, a characteristic of obese people, is linked to enhanced tumor growth. On the other hand, leptin can influence both innate as well as adaptive immunity related to cancer. Overall, leptin's role in modulating cancer is controversial. So, in this review, we summarized the role of leptin in shaping different forms of cancer that are influenced by leptin-leptin receptor signaling with special emphasis on immunomodulation and inflammatory events and also discussed the possible therapeutic interventions to date. As this review work, with the collection of different updated knowledge, has summarized the role of leptin on cancer, it would be useful material to have on hand for both beginners as well as pioneers of these and related fields.