title: Diabetes and its link with cancer: providing the fuel and spark to launch an aggressive growth regime.
abstract: Diabetes is a disease involving metabolic derangements in multiple organs. While the spectrum of diabetic complications has been known for years, recent evidence suggests that diabetes could also contribute to the initiation and propagation of certain cancers. The mechanism(s) underlying this relationship are not completely resolved but likely involve changes in hormone and nutrient levels, as well as activation of inflammatory and stress-related pathways. Interestingly, some of the drugs used clinically to treat diabetes also appear to have antitumour effects, further highlighting the interaction between these two conditions. In this contribution we review recent literature on this emerging relationship and explore the potential mechanisms that may promote cancer in diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Sanket
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6902-0112
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Menghan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4371-9782
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0119-9328
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents