β-Cell Function in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

To evaluate p-cell function in patients with pancreatic cancer, the glucagon stimulation test was performed in seven patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, seven patients with type I diabetes mellitus, seven patients with type I1 diabetes mellitus, and in seven healthy controls. C-peptide serum levels were determined before and after a 1-mg i.v. glucagon injection. Basal C-peptide values were normal or slightly increased in pancreatic cancer and type I1 diabetic patients and low in type I diabetic patients. Following glucagon stimulation, no significant increase was observed in C-peptide values of type I diabetics and pancreatic cancer patients, whereas significant increases occurred in controls and type I1 diabetics. It is concluded that the altered p-cell function found in pancreatic cancer patients may lead to hyperglycemia, which is frequently associated with this tumor type.

Beta-cell function and insulin resistance evaluated by HOMA in pancreatic cancer subjects with varying degrees of glucose intolerance

“…Some investigators have concluded that profound IR is the cause of diabetes in pancreatic cancer [2] , and others have noted that the altered BCF found in pancreatic cancer patients may lead to hyperglycemia [8] . Permert et al [2] using hyperglycemic glucose clamp found no difference in insulin action between controls and pancreatic cancer subjects with normal glucose.…”

“…Increased insulin resistance [2,3,6,7] and altered ␤ -cell function (BCF) [3,8,9] occur in pancreatic cancer. However, it is unclear which defect is primary in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer-associated diabetes.…”

Diabetes mellitus, glycated haemoglobin and C-peptide levels in relation to pancreatic cancer risk: a study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort

“…by stimulating cellular growth and by inhibiting apoptosis [8,9]). According to the second theory, diabetes would occur primarily as a result of a developing tumour, which progressively may entrap or invade pancreatic beta cell islets [10], thus causing a gradual destruction of functional beta cell capacity [11], reductions in insulin secretion capacity, and progressive hyperglycaemia.…”

Glucagon/insulin ratio as a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer in patients with new-onset diabetes mellitus

“…10,14 Previous studies have shown that pancreatic cancer cells affect the pattern of production and secretion of pancreatic hormones through paracrine mechanisms. [15][16][17][18][19] Analyses of tumor cells, tissues and blood samples of patients with pancreatic cancer identified PDAC-derived proteins that might play a role in PDACassociated DM. 20,21 PDAC is one of the most aggressive malignancies, with an overall 5 y survival rate of less than 5%.…”