Fig. 1

Scheme of molecular mechanisms that obesity can influence during carcinogenesis of the mammary gland. The abnormal increase of leptin levels in obesity is an event which can positively regulate transcription of genes associated with tumor growth and proliferation such as Cadh-1 and CP450Arom, respectively. Solid lines indicate a mechanism or pathway established experimentally. Dashed lines indicate a mechanism or pathway not determined yet. Arrowheads indicate upregulation and flattened heads indicate downregulation