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Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Obesity, and Cancer

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Abstract

Epidemiologic studies have proposed a link between obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. The pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the development of type 2 diabetes, namely hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, have also been implicated in cancer development. Patients with type 2 diabetes are reported to have a worse response to cancer chemotherapy, have more complications, and have a poorer prognosis than patients with cancer without diabetes. Studies also have reported that insulin, insulin secretagogues, and metformin may have effects on tumor growth. Given the escalating worldwide prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, their relationship to cancer has generated great interest and research across many fields of medicine.

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Abbreviations

CPS II:

Cancer Prevention Study II

EPIC:

European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition

NECSS:

National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System

NHANES III:

Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

WHI:

Women’s Health Initiative

ZODIAC-16:

Zwolle Outpatient Diabetes Project Integrating Available Care 16.

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Disclosure

Dr. Derek LeRoith has been a consultant/speaker for Sanofi-Aventis, Takeda, Merck, and Bristol-Myers Squibb/AstraZeneca. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1055, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Emily Jane Gallagher & Derek LeRoith

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  1. Emily Jane Gallagher
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  2. Derek LeRoith
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Correspondence to Derek LeRoith.

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Gallagher, E.J., LeRoith, D. Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Obesity, and Cancer. Curr Diab Rep 10, 93–100 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-010-0101-y

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