From Mount Sanai: Obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer: the insulin and insulin-like growth factor connection

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22593429

Endocr Relat Cancer. 2012 May 16. [Epub ahead of print]

Obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer: the insulin and insulin-like growth factor connection.

Cohen DH, Leroith D.

Source

D Cohen, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY, United States.

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies suggest a positive association between obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) with the risk of cancer and cancer-related mortality. Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, increased levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF), elevated levels of steroid and peptide hormones and inflammatory markers all appear to play a role in the connection between these different diseases. Medications used to treat T2D, such as metformin and exogenous insulin, may affect the risk of cancer and cancer-related mortality. Newer therapies targeting the insulin and IGF-I systems are being developed for use in cancer therapy.