Type 2 diabetes is a serious health concern for any patient. But when the patient also has cancer, diabetes may interfere with potentially life saving cancer treatment. Concurrent diabetes and cancer is relatively common because of the high prevalence of both conditions. However, researchers are only beginning to understand the interactions between diabetes and cancer. And now cancer researchers are beginning to integrate that knowledge into our understanding of how cancer develops and responds to treatments. Interactions A potentially important interaction between diabetes and cancer is the common thread of insulin signaling. Insulin is a potent promoter of cell growth and may be implicated in the development of some common cancers. Insulin-like growth factor receptors are often mutated in cancers, and the resulting dysregulation of the insulin signaling system may lead to rampant proliferation in some types of cancer. Hyperinsulinemia, which can result from the disruption of insulin signaling or production, is a risk factor for the development and progression of several cancer types, including prostate and breast cancers. In contrast, lower insulin levels have been associated with better outcomes in diabetic patients with prostate or breast cancer.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 05:19:06 +0000
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