AUTHOR=Lagarde Courtney B. , Thapa Kapil , Cullen Nicole M. , Hawes Mackenzie L. , Salim Khudeja , Benz Megan C. , Dietrich Sophie R. , Burow Brandon E. , Bunnell Bruce A. , Martin Elizabeth C. , Collins-Burow Bridgette M. , Lynch Ronald M. , Hoang Van T. , Burow Matthew E. , Fang Jennifer S. 

TITLE=Obesity and leptin in breast cancer angiogenesis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1465727

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2024.1465727

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=At the time of breast cancer diagnosis, most patients meet the diagnostic criteria to be classified as obese or overweight. This can significantly impact patient outcome: breast cancer patients with obesity (body mass index > 30) have a poorer prognosis compared to patients with a lean BMI [1-3]. Obesity is associated with hyperleptinemia, and leptin is a well-established driver of metastasis in breast cancer [4,5]. However, the effect of hyperleptinemia on angiogenesis in breast cancer is less well-known. Angiogenesis is an important process in breast cancer because it is essential for tumor growth beyond 1mm 3 in size as well as cancer cell circulation and metastasis [6]. This review investigates the role of leptin in regulating angiogenesis, specifically within the context of breast cancer and the associated tumor microenvironment in obese patients.