Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM), one of the most common life-threatening illnesses worldwide,
is a group of metabolic diseases, characterized by sustained hyperglycemia. The global
prevalence of diabetes mellitus among adults reached 387 millions in 2014 and is still
rising. It is suggested there is a strong association between diabetes mellitus (especially
type 2 diabetes mellitus) and carcinogenesis. The possible biological links between
diabetes mellitus and cancer comprise hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia and fat-induced
chronic inflammation. Although, the strongest association refers to pancreas and liver,
there are many other organs involved in carcinogenesis in diabetic patients including
breast, endometrium, bladder and kidney.
Recent studies suggest that there is also association between cancer incidence and
anti-diabetic medications. It was observed that some medications decrease the risk
of carcinogenesis and some increase that risk. The majority of studies concern metformin,
a drug of choice in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and its anti-neoplastic and tumor-suppressing
activity. The positive effect of metformin was found in numerous researches investigating
breast, pancreas, liver, colon, ovaries and prostate tumors.
Because a variety of studies have suggested that diabetes mellitus and cancer are
frequently coexisting diseases, recently published studies try to explain the influence
of diabetes mellitus and anti-diabetic medications on carcinogenesis in different
organs.
We present the review of the latest studies investigating the association between
both diabetes mellitus and anti-diabetic medications and cancer incidence and prognosis.
Particularly we highlight the problem of concomitant head and neck cancers in diabetics,
rarely analysed and often omitted in studies.
Key words
antidiabetic medications - cancer - diabetes
