Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cancer Risk

Abstract

Obesity and type 2 diabetes have both been associated with increased cancer risk and are becoming increasingly prevalent. Metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia are associated with both obesity and type 2 diabetes and have been implicated in the obesity-cancer relationship. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed to link obesity and diabetes with cancer progression, including an increase in insulin/IGF-1 signaling, lipid and glucose uptake and metabolism, alterations in the profile of cytokines, chemokines, and adipokines, as well as changes in the adipose tissue directly adjacent to the cancer sites. This review aims to summarize and provide an update on the epidemiological and mechanistic evidence linking obesity and type 2 diabetes with cancer, focusing on the roles of insulin, lipids, and adipose tissue.

Adverse Effects of Metformin From Diabetes to COVID-19, Cancer, Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Aging: Is VDAC1 a Common Target?

“…Generally, diabetic patients are more expected to develop a variety of cancers ( Shikata et al, 2013 ; Collins, 2014 ; Cignarelli et al, 2018 ; Kang et al, 2018 ; Scully et al, 2020 ). These patients are at increased risk of developing cancers such as breast, prostate, pancreatic, and non-small cell lung (NSCLC) cancer compared to non-diabetic patients ( Richardson and Pollack, 2005 ; Pierotti et al, 2013 ).…”

Diabetes and Cancer: Metabolic Association, Therapeutic Challenges, and the Role of Natural Products

“…Diabesity has been associated with the development of pancreatic cancer and its pathogenesis in many studies [107]. In addition, it contributes to an increased risk of a number of different cancers, including breast, hematological and prostate cancer [108][109][110]. Diabesity has been related to cancer progression through a number of mechanisms, including 1. insulin-like growth factor signaling, activation of the insulin/IGF signaling pathway has been presumed to lead to tumor initiation and/or progression just at the cellular level via tumor cell-specific mechanisms such as cell division activation and glucose metabolism [111] and epithelialto-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [110] 2.…”

“…In addition, it contributes to an increased risk of a number of different cancers, including breast, hematological and prostate cancer [108][109][110]. Diabesity has been related to cancer progression through a number of mechanisms, including 1. insulin-like growth factor signaling, activation of the insulin/IGF signaling pathway has been presumed to lead to tumor initiation and/or progression just at the cellular level via tumor cell-specific mechanisms such as cell division activation and glucose metabolism [111] and epithelialto-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [110] 2. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are common in individuals with diabesity, C-peptide levels as indicators of insulin secretion have been tested in many studies to see whether hyperinsulinemia is related to cancer risk and mortality [112].…”

“…3. Adipose tissue factors, adipose tissue is an important organ for the production of adipokines, inflammatory cytokines, and enzymes that are dysregulated in obesity and type 2 diabetes and potentially contribute to tumor growth and metastases [106,107,110]. 4.…”

Paradoxical effects of obesity on pre‑ vs. post‑menopausal breast cancer: The epigenetic mechanisms (Review)

“…Obesity is associated with a variety of health risks, and severe obesity further increases the risk of obesity-related complications (14)(15)(16). Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (17)(18)(19)(20), cardiovascular diseases (21,22), inflammatory bowel diseases (23,24) and overall mortality (25,26). According to the examination of the association between obesity and US adult mortality in recent decades , scientists have reported that obesity accounted for 18% of deaths among African Americans and Caucasians between the ages of 40 and 85, which is significantly greater than the ~5% previously considered (27).…”