Neoplastic disorders at patients with diabetes mellitus type 2: prevalence and correlation with the antihyperglicemic therapy

Background and aims: Recent estimations show us an important increase of the neoplastic disorders, especially in developed countries, cancer being the second cause of mortality after cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is associated with an increased risk of neoplastic diseases (especially colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer). The factors involved in the increase of this risk at patient with diabetes mellitus type 2 are hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and high levels of the hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). The main purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of neoplastic diseases at patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, and to investigate the the effect of the antihyperglicemic therapy on different types of neoplasm. Material and method: The study included 3094 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, treated at the Center of Diabetes Timișoara, between 2013-2015. Data was collected related to a series of clinic and biologic parameters, to the presence and history of neoplastic diseases, as well as to the antidiabetic therapy that was used. Results: The prevalence of neoplastic diseases in the group included in the study was of 3,5%, 109 patients having a form of cancer. Neoplasm prevalence was higher at patients that had taken insulin treatment, whereas the subgroup treated with sulfonylurea derivatives had a neoplasm prevalence twice as high as compared to the group that had undergone metformin monotherapy. Conclusion: The prevalence of neoplastic disorders was 1,5 higher at patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 as compared to the general population of Timiș county, the conclusion being the existence of some correlations between neoplastic disorder and age, weight status and the duration of the evolution of diabetes mellitus.