Diabetes Raises Risk of Death From Cancer in Asians

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Yu Chen</strong> Associate Professor, Department of Population Health Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Medicine Associate Professor, Department of Medicine NYU Langone School of Medicine

Dr. Yu Chen

Yu Chen PhD MPH
Associate Professor, Department of Population Health
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Medicine
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
NYU Langone School of Medicine

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response There is increasing evidence of an association between type 2 diabetes and cancer risk. However, previous studies in Asian only considered one or a few cancer types, included only a small number of patients with diabetes, or didn’t control for other important risk factors such as obesity.
We conducted pooled analyses of 19 prospective population-based cohorts included in the Asia Cohort Consortium (ACC), comprising data from over 771,000 individuals in the Asia.

Diabetes was associated with a 26% increased risk of death from any cancer in Asians.
Significant positive associations with diabetes were observed for the risk of death from cancers of the colorectum, liver, bile duct , gallbladder, pancreas, breast, endometrium, ovary, prostate, kidney, thyroid, as well as lymphoma. Diabetes was not statistically significantly associated with the risk of death from cancers of the bladder, cervix, esophagus, stomach, and lung or with leukemia.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Influence of diabetes on the risk of death from overall cancer, digestive cancers and breast cancer is largely similar in Asians and in developed Western countries

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: The findings indicate a potential need for appropriate cancer screening among individuals with diabetes, and a greater emphasis on lifestyle modifications to prevent diabetes and reduce cancer mortality, not only in Western populations, but also in Asians

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Citation:

 Chen Y, et al “Association between type 2 diabetes and risk of cancer mortality: a pooled analysis of over 771,000 individuals in the Asia Cohort Consortium” Diabetologia 2017; DOI:10.1007/s00125-017-4229-z.

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Last Updated on March 8, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD