title: Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer: the insulin and IGF connection.
abstract: Epidemiological 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 IGF, elevated levels of steroid and peptide hormones, and inflammatory markers appear to play a role in the connection between these different diseases. Medications, such as metformin and exogenous insulin, used to treat T2D may affect the risk of cancer and cancer-related mortality. Newer therapies targeting the insulin and IGF1 systems are being developed for use in cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Diseases, The Samuel Bronfman Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Dara Hope
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: LeRoith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I