Adiponectin is an adipokine exclusively produced from adipocytes and
exerts potent growth inhibitory activity in a wide range of cancer cells. Decreased
expression and/or function of adiponectin are associated with increased risks and
aggressive development of cancers with poor prognoses. To restore the expression level
of endogenous adiponectin and to activate its functional pathways represent promising
strategies for the prevention and treatment of cancer, especially in obese patients.
However, the development of recombinant adiponectin as a therapeutic agent has been
hampered by the complexity of its structures and the highly diversified functionality of
this magic molecule. Here, the application of different adiponectin-based prophylactics
and therapeutics in cancer treatment will be thoroughly reviewed and scrutinized.
Keywords: Adiponectin, Adipokine, Cancer, Obesity, Glycosylation,
Peptidomimetic, Tumor microenvironment, Angiogenesis, Therapeutics.
