It remains to be seen if a similar axis exists in breast cancer, but with their role in regulating mammary gland development, it is not difficult to hypothesize that macrophages may upregulate aromatase expression in response to IL-6 in the context of obesity, thus providing a mechanistic explanation of the propensity for obese women to develop ER+ breast tumors. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is breast carcinoma.