Supplementary Table 1. Excluded studies and their reason(s) for exclusion. AA Study Journal 1 Abajo et al, 2012 World Journal of Gastroenterology Reason for exclusion Leptin studied on CRC cell lines. No circulating leptin. 2 Abolhassani et al, 2008 Cancer Res Leptin studied on CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. 3 4 5 Aleksandrova et al, 2012 Al-Harithy et al, 2010 Aloulou et al, 2008 Carcinogenesis Saudi Med J Cancer Res Adiponectin and risk of CRC. No leptin. Study on resistin genetics and CC. No leptin. Serum leptin determined in CRC patients. No control group. 6 Amemori et al, 2007 Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol Leptin studied on CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. 7 Attoub et al, 2000 FASEB Journal Leptin studied on CC and kidney cell lines. No circulating leptin. 8 Attoub et al, 2011 In Vivo Leptin studied on CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. 9 Barresi et al, 2009 Pathology Adiponectin studied in CRC tissue - not leptin. 10 Bartucci et al, 2010 Endocr Relat Cancer Leptin effects on the biology of colorectal cancer stem cells. No circulating leptin. 11 Belobrajdic et al, 2008 Growth Horm IGF Res Adiponectin and IGF-related peptides in relation to CRC risk. No leptin. 12 Bobe et al, 2010 Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention Study on ADN recurrence. No healthy controls included. 13 Byeon et al, 2010 International Journal of Cancer 14 Cammisotto et al, 2012 Endocrine, Metabolic and Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Adiponectin/ adiponectin receptor and CRC. No leptin. Leptin receptor expression in colon cell lines. No circulating leptin. 15 Campbell et al, 2009 Cancer Prevention Research 16 Hum Mol Genet 17 Carvajal-Carmona et al, 2009 Cascio et al, 2009 18 19 20 21 22 23 Chen et al, 2009 Chen et al, 2009 Chen et al, 2009 Cintin et al, 1999 Cintin et al, 2002 Connolly et al, 2011 Eur J Nutr International Journal of Cancer Dig Dis Sci Br J Cancer Cancer Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 24 25 26 Danese et al, 2012 Endo et al, 2009 Erarslan et al, 2009 Clinica Chimica Acta Gut Dig Dis Sci 27 Farquharson et al, 2012 Mol Biol Rep J Cell Physiol Leptin expression studied in adipose tissue. No circulating leptin. Study on adiponectin genetics and CRC. No leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Commentary. No data on circulating leptin. Commentary. No data on circulating leptin. Commentary. No data on circulating leptin. Serum YKL-40 and CRC. No leptin. Serum YKL-40 and CRC survival. No leptin. Serum leptin determined prospectively in cancer (including CRC) patients. Unappropriate design. Serum resistin and CRC. No leptin. Author's reply. No data on circulating leptin. Adiponectin and colorectal neoplasia. No leptin. Leptin expression assessed in colon tissues. No circulating leptin. AA Study 28 Fenton et al, 2006 Journal Carcinogenesis 29 Fenton et al, 2007 Carcinogenesis 30 Fenton et al, 2008 International Journal of Cancer 31 Fenton et al, 2008 Mol Carcinog 32 33 Ferroni et al, 2007 Fouladiun et al, 2005 Anticancer Res Cancer 34 35 36 Frkkil, 2010 Fukumoto et al, 2008 Gaja et al, 2004 Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology Cancer Sci Vnitr Lek 37 38 Gialamas et al, 2011 Gonullu et al, 2010 Metabolism Int J Colorectal Dis 39 40 Gornick et al, 2011 Gulcelik et al, 2012 Br J Cancer Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 41 42 Habeeb et al, 2011 Hardwick et al, 2001 Cancer Sci Gastroenterology 43 44 He et al, 2011 Healy et al, 2012 BMC Med Genet Colorectal Disease 45 46 Henderson et al, 2007 Hoda et al, 2007 Nutr Cancer British Journal of Surgery 47 48 49 50 Huang W. S. et al, 2012 Huang X. F. et al, 2009 Huang Z et al, 2010 Hui et al, 2011 J Cell Physiol Gut World Chinese Journal of Digestology Cell Biochem Biophys 51 Jaffe et al, 2008 International Journal of Cancer 52 John et al, 2006 53 54 Kaklamani et al, 2008 Kapoor et al, 2009 Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics JAMA American Journal of Gastroenterology 55 Karimi et al, 2011 Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench 56 Keku et al, 2012 Cancer Causes Control 57 Kemik et al, 2012 Human and Experimental Toxicology 58 Khatoon et al, 2011 Clinical Biochemistry Reason for exclusion Leptin studied in colon cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin studied in colon cell lines. No circulating leptin. Adiponectin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin studied in colon cell lines. No circulating leptin. Adiponectin and CRC. No leptin. Serum leptin determined in cancer (including CRC) patients. Unappropriate design. Editorial. No data on circulating leptin. Adiponectin and ADN. No leptin. Diurnal rythm of leptin studied in cancer patients. No control group. Adiponectin and CRC. No leptin. Adiponectin, resistin, insulin resistance, and colorectal tumors. No leptin. Adiponectin genetics and CRC. No leptin. Adiponectin in relation to breast and colon cancer risk. No leptin. Adiponectin effects on CC cells. No leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Adiponectin genetics and CRC. No leptin. Leptin and pathological features in CRC patients. No healthy controls included. Unsufficient data provided in the paper. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Role of visfatin in CRC cell lines. No leptin. Author's reply. No data on circulating leptin. Unsufficient data provided in the paper. Leptin expression assessed in colon tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Author's reply. No data on circulating leptin. Adiponectin genetics and CRC. No leptin. Letter. Adiponectin and gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Leptin receptor genetics and CRC. No circulating leptin. Adiponectin and IGF genetics in relation to CC risk. No leptin. Overlap with the eligible study of Kemik et al, 2010, which has larger sample. Leptin genetics and CRC. No circulating leptin. AA Study 59 Kim A. Y. et al, 2010 Journal Molecular Endocrinology Reason for exclusion Adiponectin effects on CC cells studied. No leptin. Metabolic risk factors and ADN risk. No leptin. Metabolic syndrome and ADN. No leptin. Leptin studied in ADN patients. No healthy controls included. Leptin and other hormones studied in CRC and lung cancer patients. No healthy controls included. Leptin and PPARG expression studied in ADN tissues. No healthy controls included. 60 Kim B. C. et al, 2010 Cancer Prevention Research 61 62 Kim B. C. et al, 2012 Kim H. H. et al, 2012 Cancer Causes and Control World Journal of Gastroenterology 63 Kim H. J. et al, 2012 J Korean Med Sci 64 Kim Y. S. et al, 2011 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 65 Kitayama et al, 2009 Digestion 66 Koda et al, 2007 Annals of Oncology 67 Koda et al, 2007 J Clin Pathol Leptin expression studied in colorectal tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. 68 Levy et al, 2008 Neoplasma 69 Lin et al, 2010 FASEB Journal 70 Lin et al, 2011 J Agric Food Chem 71 Liu H et al, 2009 Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology Serum molecules including leptin were studied as tumor markers for CRC. No healthy controls included. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin expression studied in colorectal tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. 72 Liu H et al, 2011 Cell Biochem Biophys Leptin expression studied in colorectal tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. 73 74 Liu L et al, 2011 Lukanova et al, 2006 PLoS One Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention Adiponectin genetics and CRC. No leptin. Overlap with the eligible study of Stattin et al, 2004., which is focused on leptin. 75 Lysaght et al, 2011 Cancer Lett Visceral adipose tissue studied in cancer patients. No healthy controls included. 76 Maguire et al, 2002 Cytokine 77 Matsuda et al, 2009 Journal of Surgical Research Leptin studied in metastatic CRC patients. No healthy controls included. Serum leptin and other molecules studied in CRC patients. No healthy controls included. 78 Melen-Mucha et al, 2007 Endokrynol Pol 79 Na et al, 2009 Laboratory Investigation 80 Nilofer et al, 2011 International Journal of Cancer 81 82 Nowakowska et al, 2010 Nowakowska et al, 2011 Annals of Oncology ISRN Endocrinol 83 Ogunwobi et al, 2007 Dig Dis Sci Adiposity and carcinogenesis. Leptin not studied. Leptin expression studied in colorectal tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin expression studied in colorectal tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Leptin and its receptor studied in CRC patients. No healthy controls included. IGF genetics and CRC. No leptin. Leptin studied in CRC tissue. No circulating leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. AA Study 84 Ogunwobi et al, 2007 Journal Int J Colorectal Dis 85 Ok e al, 2010 Korean J Gastroenterol 86 Otake et al, 2005 Clin Cancer Res 87 Paik et al, 2009 Ann Surg Oncol 88 Park H et al, 2010 Journal of Clinical Oncology 89 Park S. J. et al, 2009 Gastroenterology 90 Partida-Perez Cancer Biomarkers 91 Paul et al, 2006 Inflamm Bowel Dis 92 93 Pechlivanis et al, 2009 Phelip et al, 2011 European Journal of Endocrinology J Gastrointest Oncol 94 Ratke et al, 2010 Endocr Relat Cancer 95 Journal of Biological Chemistry 96 Rouet-Benzineb et al, 2004 Sasaki et al, 2012 97 Sato et al, 2002 Nutrition 98 Schnabele et al, 2009 Eur J Nutr 99 Shen et al, 2011 African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Clin Cancer Res 100 Slattery et al, 2008 International Journal of Cancer 101 Stachowicz et al, 2009 Cytokine 102 Stachowicz et al, 2010 J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 103 Stattin, et al, 2003 Oncol Rep 104 Storkson et al, 2012 Int J Colorectal Dis 105 Sugiyama et al, 2009 Int J Oncol 106 Takahashi H et al, 2009 Gastroenterology 107 Takahashi H et al, 2009 Cancer Sci 108 Takahashi H et al, 2009 Mol Med Report Reason for exclusion Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin expression studied in ADN tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Visceral fat accumulation and adiponectin in relation to ADN. No leptin. Leptin expression studied in colorectal tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Hormones and cytokines, including leptin, in relation to cancer cachexia. No healthy controls included. Adiponectin and CRC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin and adiponectin genetics and CRC. No circulating leptin. Leptin release from adipose tissue specimens studied. No circulating leptin. Adiponectin genetics and CRC. No leptin. Adiponectin studied in pancreatic and colorectal cancer patients. No leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. IL-6, insulin and HOMA-IR in relation to ADN. Leptin not studied. Conference paper on leptin and cancer anorexia. No data on circulating leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin and leptin receptor genotypes and CC. No circulating leptin. Leptin expression studied in colorectal tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Leptin and its receptor studied in CRC patients. No healthy controls included. Overlap with the eligible study of Stocks et al, 2008, which has larger sample. Adipocytokines and glucocorticoid-related genetics in CRC. Leptin not studied. Adiponectin effect on CRC cells. Leptin not studied. Study on aberrant crypt foci. No CRC or ADN subjests included. Study on aberrant crypt foci. No CRC or ADN subjests included. Study on aberrant crypt foci. No CRC or ADN subjests included. AA Study 109 Takahashi M et al, 2009 Journal International Journal of Clinical Oncology Reason for exclusion Leptin and ghrelin studied in gastrointestinal cancer patients. No separate data on CC. 110 Tsilidis et al, 2009 111 Tutino et al, 2011 Cancer Causes and Control Anticancer Res 112 Uchiyama et al, 2011 Gastroenterology 113 Uddin et al, 2009 Carcinogenesis 114 Wagsater et al, 2008 Cancer Invest 115 Wang D et al, 2012 J Biosci 116 Wang F et al, 2010 FASEB Journal 117 Wang N et al, 2008 World Chinese Journal of Digestology 118 Wang X et al, 2006 Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 119 Vasku et al, 2009 120 Wei et al, 2005 121 Wiwanitkit et al, 2010 Int J Colorectal Dis J Natl Cancer Inst Int J Colorectal Dis 122 Wolf et al, 2006 Cancer 123 Wong J et al, 2009 Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology 124 Wong W et al, 2010 125 Wu et al, 2004 Science Signaling World Chinese Journal of Digestology 126 Xiong et al, 2006 World Chinese Journal of Digestology 127 Xu et al, 2011 Obesity Surgery 128 Yamada et al, 2010 Cancer Sci 129 Yamamoto et al, 2005 Gut Leptin genetics and CRC. No circulating leptin. Leptin and its receptor studied in CRC patients. No healthy controls included. Overlap with the two eligible studies of Uchiyama et al, 2011. Leptin studied in colorectal cells and tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Resistin genetics in relation to CRC. Leptin not studied. Leptin and its receptor studied in CRC specimens and cells. No healthy controls included. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin genetics studied in relation to ADN. No circulating leptin. Leptin studied in CC cell lines. No circulating leptin. Leptin genetics and CRC. No circulating leptin. Adiponectin and CRC. No leptin. Letter. Adiponectin and resistin in CRC. Leptin not studied. Leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin studied in breast and CC patients. No healthy controls included. Leptin receptor expression studied in colorectal tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Letter. No circulating leptin studied. Leptin receptor expression studied in colorectal cells and tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Leptin receptor expression studied in colorectal tissue specimens. No circulating leptin. Leptin expression in adipose tissue studied. No circulating leptin. Leptin and other molecules studied in patients with CRC recurrence. No healthy controls included. Adiponectin studied in patients with Crohn disease and CC. Leptin not studied.