ADIPOQ and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: In addition, obesity-associated alterations including increased circulating concentrations of insulin, IGF-1, and leptin as well as decreased adiponectin levels, activate the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway that promotes cell survival and proliferation, thus leading to colon carcinogenesis [13].