Association between cancer and serum adiponectin level: The review of epidemiologic evidences

Adiponectin، an adipose tissue derived adipokines، have anti- inflammatory، anti- obesity and anti- diabetic properties. There are several studies inrestigated the association between this hormone and different types of cancer. In present study، we aimed to review the relationship between adiponectin and cancers.

In this review study، various articles as following: case conlral، cross sectional and longifudinal study have been found through PubMed search engine from 2002 to October 2011، by using the following key words: cancer، malignancy، cell proliferation and adiponectin.

From the total number of 45 articles evidences proved the inverse association between the hormone and the risk of breast cancer، in which has been shown both cohort and case-control studies، in pre- and post- menopausal women. Endometrial cancer risk was significantly lower in women with higher plasma adiponectin level compared to women with lower level of hormone. Risk of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer were higher in men with lower level of adiponectin concentration. Studies have shown the inverse correlation between the mentioned hormone and risk of colorectal cancer. Also، it seems that adiponectin inversely associates with pancreatic cancer in men.

It seems that serum adiponectin level have inversly associated with risk of several cancers. This hormone suppresses the growth and proliferation of cancer cells، direct or indirect، via several mechanisms.