Does diabetes support cancer development?

Czech version

Authors: Ján Murín
Authors‘ workplace: I. interná klinika LF UK a UNB, Nemocnica Staré Mesto, Bratislava
Published in: Diab Obez 2020; 20(40): 103-107
Category: Reviews

Overview

Diabetes and cancer are common diseases with tremendous impact on health worldwide. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that diabetics are at significantly higher risk for many forms of cancer. Type 2 diabetes and cancer share many risk factors, but potential biologic links between the two diseases are incompletely understood. Evidence from observational studies suggests that some medications used to treat hyperglycemia are associated with either increased or reduced risk of cancer. We tried to gain information for the following questions: Is there a meaningful association between diabetes and cancer incidence and prognosis? What risk factors are common to both diabetes and cancer? What are possible biologic links here? Do diabetes treatments influence risk of cancer or its prognosis? Our answers from the literature are: Diabetes is associated with increased risk for some cancers and with reduced risk of prostate cancer. The association is partly due to shared risk factors (age, obesity, diet). The possible mechanisms for a direct link include hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia and inflammation. Diabetics should undergo cancer screenings. Evidence suggests that metformin is associated with a lower risk of cancer and that exogenous insulin is associated with an increased cancer risk. Many questions still remain.

Keywords:

antidiabetic drugs – cancer – cancer risk factors – diabetes

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