In cancer, obesity-induced expression of growth factors, inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6 and TNF-α), and adipokines (e.g., leptin) can induce dysregulation PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, to induce cancer progression and predict a poor prognosis. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.