CLDN3 and cancer: Among 17 genes consistently overexpressed in cancer cells from obese versus lean patients in both subgroups, while some of these genes have been reported as markers of proliferation and progression, e.g., CD2437,38, claudins (CLDN3, CLDN4)39, several other genes were thought to be associated with favorable tumor characteristics, e.g., TNFSF1040, LTF41 (Fig. 5a, i).