Biomedicines | Interview with One of the Authors of a Highly Cited Paper—Dr. Yoon Jae Lee
6 November 2025
Dr. Yoon Jae Lee is one of the authors of the highly cited article entitled “The Role of Adipokines in Tumor Progression and Its Association with Obesity” published in Biomedicines (ISSN: 2227-9059).
The following is an interview with Dr. Lee:
- Congratulations on your published paper! Could you please briefly introduce the main research content of the published paper?
Our review explores how adipokines—bioactive molecules secreted by adipose tissue—serve as key mediators linking obesity to tumorigenesis. We summarize the molecular mechanisms through which specific adipokines such as leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin, apelin, and chemerin influence cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. The paper also emphasizes the crosstalk between adipokines, tumor cells, and the tumor microenvironment (TME), highlighting how dysregulated adipokine signaling promotes inflammation, angiogenesis, and metabolic reprogramming conducive to tumor growth. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting adipokine pathways as a novel strategy for obesity-associated cancers. - Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your current research?
I am a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and an assistant professor working at Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea. My current research focuses on wound healing, adipose biology, and regenerative medicine, with particular interest in how adipose-derived factors modulate tissue repair and carcinogenesis. Our team is also developing translational models using decellularized extracellular matrices and cell-based composite grafts to better understand the intersection between inflammation, fibrosis, and tumor progression. - Would you mind sharing what inspired your research?
This work was inspired by my dual clinical and research experience. As a reconstructive surgeon, I frequently observe how adipose tissue behaves in healing and pathological contexts. The growing evidence that obesity influences cancer biology through endocrine signaling encouraged our team to synthesize emerging data on adipokines. We wanted to provide clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive framework explaining how adipose-derived molecules could act as both pathological drivers and therapeutic targets in cancer. - What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing this paper, and how did you overcome it?
The most significant challenge was integrating heterogeneous data from multiple cancer models and experimental systems. To overcome this, we focused on a systematic synthesis of mechanistic pathways—signal transduction networks such as JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt, and AMPK/mTOR—and cross-referenced them across cancer types to highlight convergent mechanisms rather than isolated findings. - How did feedback during your research influence your direction?
Peer and collaborator feedback played an essential role. During revision, reviewers encouraged us to expand our discussion of the tumor microenvironment and clarify how adipokine dysregulation impacts immune cell polarization and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Incorporating these aspects strengthened the paper’s translational relevance and shifted our focus from isolated adipokine effects to a systemic, microenvironment-centered understanding of obesity-related cancer. - What role did you play in your research team, and how did teamwork affect the paper’s outcome?
As the corresponding author and principal investigator, I oversaw conceptualization, supervision, and final editing. Dr. Jae Won Kim contributed to data curation and literature synthesis. Our collaboration was highly synergistic—my clinical perspective complemented their molecular focus. This interdisciplinary teamwork allowed us to bridge bench research and clinical implications, making the review both mechanistically robust and practically meaningful. - Why did you choose the Biomedicines journal as a platform for publishing your work, and how was your experience?
We chose Biomedicines for its strong focus on translational biomedical research and open-access visibility. The review process was efficient and constructive, providing valuable scientific feedback and a smooth publication experience. - What impact do you hope your research will have, and what key innovation do you see in your paper?
We hope this review will serve as a reference framework for future studies exploring obesity-associated cancers. The key innovation lies in our integrated model of adipokine–tumor interactions, illustrating how endocrine, metabolic, and immune pathways converge to promote tumor progression. By framing adipokines not merely as biomarkers but as active modulators of the tumor ecosystem, we aim to guide therapeutic research toward adipokine-targeted interventions. - What do you think the future directions for your research are?
We plan to explore how modulating adipokine pathways can control both tumor progression and tissue regeneration. Our goal is to develop translational strategies that bridge adipose biology with cancer prevention and wound-healing therapy.