Relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and markers of cutaneous melanoma aggressiveness: an observational multicentric study in 443 patients with melanoma*

Abstract

Summary Background Some studies have suggested a relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and increased incidence of melanoma. Efforts are under way to identify preventable and treatable factors associated with greater melanoma aggressiveness, but no studies to date have examined the relationship between T2DM and the aggressiveness of cutaneous melanoma at diagnosis. Objectives To explore potential associations between T2DM, glycaemic control and metformin treatment and the aggressiveness of cutaneous melanoma. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional multicentric study in 443 patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma. At diagnosis, all patients completed a standardized protocol, and a fasting blood sample was extracted to analyse their glucose levels, glycated haemoglobin concentration and markers of systemic inflammation. Melanoma characteristics and aggressiveness factors [Breslow thickness, ulceration, tumour mitotic rate (TMR), sentinel lymph node (SLN) involvement and tumour stage] were also recorded. Results The mean (SD) age of the patients was 55·98 (15·3) years and 50·6% were male. The median Breslow thickness was 0·85 mm. In total, 48 (10·8%) patients were diagnosed with T2DM and this finding was associated with a Breslow thickness > 2 mm [odds ratio (OR) 2·6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·4–4·9; P = 0·004)] and > 4 mm (OR 3·6, 95% CI 1·7–7·9; P = 0·001), TMR > 5 per mm2 (OR 4·5, 95% CI 1·4–13·7; P = 0·009), SLN involvement (OR 2·3, 95% CI 1–5·7; P = 0·038) and tumour stages III–IV (vs. I–II) (OR 3·4, 95% CI 1·6–7·4; P = 0·002), after adjusting for age, sex, obesity, alcohol intake and smoking habits. No significant associations emerged between glycated haemoglobin levels, metformin treatment and melanoma aggressiveness. Conclusions T2DM, rather than glycaemic control and metformin treatment, is associated with increased cutaneous melanoma aggressiveness at diagnosis.

Strengthening melanoma prevention and early detection among people with type 2 diabetes

“…Interestingly, there was no significant association between metformin treatment (received by 79% of patients with type 2 diabetes in the study) and melanoma aggressiveness, which they hypothesized was due to the anticancer properties of metformin treatment 2 . There was also no association between glycated haemoglobin levels and melanoma aggressiveness 2 …”

“…adjusted for age, sex, obesity, alcohol intake and smoking in their analyses, although there is probably residual confounding of adiposity because obesity was included as a dichotomous variable (> 30 kg m −2 ) rather than as a continuous measure of body mass index. Interestingly, there was no significant association between metformin treatment (received by 79% of patients with type 2 diabetes in the study) and melanoma aggressiveness, which they hypothesized was due to the anticancer properties of metformin treatment 2 . There was also no association between glycated haemoglobin levels and melanoma aggressiveness 2 …”

“…Nagore et al 2 . adjusted for age, sex, obesity, alcohol intake and smoking in their analyses, although there is probably residual confounding of adiposity because obesity was included as a dichotomous variable (> 30 kg m −2 ) rather than as a continuous measure of body mass index.…”

“…In this issue of the BJD , Nagore et al 2 . explore the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus, glycaemic control and metformin treatment with melanoma aggressiveness, in a cross‐sectional study of 443 patients recruited across 29 Spanish teaching hospitals.…”

“…explore the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus, glycaemic control and metformin treatment with melanoma aggressiveness, in a cross‐sectional study of 443 patients recruited across 29 Spanish teaching hospitals. In total, 11% of the patients had type 2 diabetes, and this condition was associated with more than double the odds of a thick melanoma, a high mitotic rate (a measure of tumour growth) and regional and metastatic spread of melanoma at diagnosis 2 …”