Obesity is a significant risk factor for various cancers, and adipokines, bioactive molecules secreted by adipose tissue, play a crucial role in linking excess adiposity to tumorigenesis. Adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin, apelin, and chemerin, exhibit diverse biological activities that contribute to the pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, and growth-promoting microenvironment conducive to tumor development. Leptin activates survival and proliferative signaling pathways, while adiponectin exhibits tumor-suppressive effects by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Visfatin promotes tumor growth, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion. Emerging studies suggest that other adipokines, such as resistin, apelin, and chemerin, may also possess oncogenic functions. The intricate interplay between adipokines, tumor cells, and the tumor microenvironment remains complex and multifaceted. This review highlights the evolving knowledge of how adipokines contribute to obesity-related tumorigenesis and the potential of targeting adipokine signaling pathways as a novel therapeutic approach for obesity-associated cancers. Further research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms and interactions between adipokines and tumor cells.Obesity is a significant risk factor for various cancers, and adipokines, bioactive molecules secreted by adipose tissue, play a crucial role in linking excess adiposity to tumorigenesis. Adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin, apelin, and chemerin, exhibit diverse biological activities that contribute to the pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, and growth-promoting microenvironment conducive to tumor development. Leptin activates survival and proliferative signaling pathways, while adiponectin exhibits tumor-suppressive effects by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Visfatin promotes tumor growth, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion. Emerging studies suggest that other adipokines, such as resistin, apelin, and chemerin, may also possess oncogenic functions. The intricate interplay between adipokines, tumor cells, and the tumor microenvironment remains complex and multifaceted. This review highlights the evolving knowledge of how adipokines contribute to obesity-related tumorigenesis and the potential of targeting adipokine signaling pathways as a novel therapeutic approach for obesity-associated cancers. Further research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms and interactions between adipokines and tumor cells.