Therefore, high leptin levels, and perhaps high levels of other cytokines (e.g., IL-6), in obese patients could contribute to the maintenance and survival of the dormant cancer cells that remain after debulking surgery (e.g., floating cells in the ascites or abdominal cavity), facilitating their settlement in new secondary locations (e.g., adipose tissues or mesothelium at the peritoneum) and the reappearance of recurrent disease [8, 39, 40]. The gene discussed is LEP; the disease is cancer.