Recent studies have shown that leptin-induced JAK/STAT3 activation and Notch collaborate to promote cell growth and migration and that a complex signaling network between Notch, IL-1 and leptin (NILCO) is essential for upregulation of proangiogenic factors (e.g., VEGF/VEGFR-2) in breast, endometrial and pancreatic cancer. This evidence concerns the gene LEP and familial pancreatic carcinoma.