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Effect of diabetes mellitus on the epidemiology and outcomes of colon cancer

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Abstract

Objectives

To assess the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the pathogenesis and outcomes from colon cancer.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 1853 patients with colon cancer.

Results

A higher percentage of males than females with colon cancer had DM (16.2% vs 11.3%; p<0.01). Males had a slightly lower risk of dying from colon cancer (RR−0.88; p=0.08). There was no difference in the median age of diagnosis of colon cancer in patients with and without DM, but a larger proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus were ≥70 yr at diagnosis (50% vs 43%) (p=0.0004). No significant relationship was noted between stage of colon cancer or survival and presence of DM.

Conclusions

DM did not affect either the stage at diagnosis, or outcomes from colon cancer. More males with colon cancer tended to have DM and a larger proportion of patients with DM were ≥70 yr at the time of diagnosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine Section of Oncology and Hematology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha VA Medical Center, 68198-7680, Omaha, NE

    Nicole Annette Shonka, Amit W. Panwalkar, Elizabeth C. Reed & Apar Kishor Ganti MD

  2. Department of Preventive and Societal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

    James R. Anderson

  3. Department of Oncology and Hematology, Roger Maris Cancer Center, Fargo, ND

    Preston D. Steen

Authors
  1. Nicole Annette Shonka
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  2. James R. Anderson
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  3. Amit W. Panwalkar
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  4. Elizabeth C. Reed
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  5. Preston D. Steen
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  6. Apar Kishor Ganti MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Apar Kishor Ganti MD.

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Shonka, N.A., Anderson, J.R., Panwalkar, A.W. et al. Effect of diabetes mellitus on the epidemiology and outcomes of colon cancer. Med Oncol 23, 515–519 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:23:4:515

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:23:4:515

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