Emerging Link between Diabetes and Cancer

Abstract

It has been suggested that diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Epidemiological data in Japan demonstrate that diabetes is associated with increased risk for total cancers and site‐specific cancers at colorectum, liver, and pancreas. Insulin resistance with subsequent hyperinsulinemia is the most frequently proposed hypothesis to explain this link. In addition, several facets of lifestyle including obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise, and treatment for diabetes may also affect the risk of cancer. In light of the exploding global epidemic of diabetes, even a modest increase in the cancer risk will translate into a substantial socioeconomic burden, which led to a joint committee being formed, enlisting experts from the Japan Diabetes Society and the Japanese Cancer Association to address this issue. The current insights underscore the need for clinical attention and better‐designed studies of the complex interactions between diabetes and cancer.

Unfolding link between diabetes and cancer

“…A growing body of evidence has shown that type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of total cancer death and total cancer incidence, including cancers of the liver, endometrium, pancreas, kidney, colorectal, bladder and breast. Of interest, the risk of prostate cancer is significantly decreased.…”

“…Of note, it was speculated for a certain period of time that insulin formulation might increase the risk of cancer. Current evidence on the risk of cancer in association with any diabetes treatment to prove the causal relationship between those medications and cancer is limited because of their inadequate adjustment for confounders, not accounting for the degree of exposure to drugs and their short follow‐up periods.…”