Type 2 diabetes has been linked with pancreatic cancer.
There has been speculation over the years as to whether diabetes predisposes patients to pancreatic cancer or, is an early sign of the cancer? Researchers at the University of Basel looked at the use of anti-diabetic medications and the risk of pancreatic cancer in a study reported in the American Journal of Gastroenterology which was published in January 2012.
Study 1: A total of 2,763 participants with pancreatic cancer were included in the study.
The use of metformin was associated with a lowered risk of pancreatic cancer in women.
Using sulfonylreas or insulin were both associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
The sulfonylureas include: Carbutamide, Acetohexamide, Chlorpropamide, Tolbutamide, Tolazamide, Glipizide, Glibornuride, Glibenclamide, Gliquidone, Glisoxepide, Glyclopyramide, and Glimepiride.
Study 2: A study reported in Diabetes Care, February 2012, showed much the same results, comparing rates of survival of British cancer patients taking and not taking metformin.
A total of 8,392 people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes were included in the study.
Diabetics taking metformin showed better rates of survival than those taking sulfonylureas or insulin.
The above studies were consistent with a study reported in the journal Metabolism in October 2011.
Investigators at Assaf Harofe Medical Center in Israel looked at cancer in 36,342 diabetic participants over the course of four years.
Six per cent of the participants were diagnosed with cancer during that time.
Those taking insulin had an increased risk of being diagnosed with cancer while those taking metformin had a reduced risk of a cancer diagnosis.
According to other studies, metformin could actually play a role in cancer treatment.
Researchers at the Kagawa University School of Medicine found stomach cancer cells treated with metformin were inhibited in their growth and reproduction.
This study was published in January 2012 in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapy.
Investigators at St.
Hedwig Hospital in Berlin, Germany, reported on a study of metformin and thyroid cancer in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Metformin was found to inhibit growth and cell division in thyroid cancer cells.
From this study it has been suggested the drug could be used as one kind of treatment for thyroid cancer in Type 2 diabetics.
A study reported in Diabetes Care in February 2012 compared rates of survival of British cancer sufferers taking, and not taking, metformin.
A total of 8,392 participants with Type 2 diabetes were included in this study.
The diabetics taking metformin showed better rates of survival than those taking sulfonylureas or insulin.
The study of the interactions of Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and anti-diabetic medication offers a promising future for the treatment of both diseases.
There has been speculation over the years as to whether diabetes predisposes patients to pancreatic cancer or, is an early sign of the cancer? Researchers at the University of Basel looked at the use of anti-diabetic medications and the risk of pancreatic cancer in a study reported in the American Journal of Gastroenterology which was published in January 2012.
Study 1: A total of 2,763 participants with pancreatic cancer were included in the study.
The use of metformin was associated with a lowered risk of pancreatic cancer in women.
Using sulfonylreas or insulin were both associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
The sulfonylureas include: Carbutamide, Acetohexamide, Chlorpropamide, Tolbutamide, Tolazamide, Glipizide, Glibornuride, Glibenclamide, Gliquidone, Glisoxepide, Glyclopyramide, and Glimepiride.
Study 2: A study reported in Diabetes Care, February 2012, showed much the same results, comparing rates of survival of British cancer patients taking and not taking metformin.
A total of 8,392 people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes were included in the study.
Diabetics taking metformin showed better rates of survival than those taking sulfonylureas or insulin.
The above studies were consistent with a study reported in the journal Metabolism in October 2011.
Investigators at Assaf Harofe Medical Center in Israel looked at cancer in 36,342 diabetic participants over the course of four years.
Six per cent of the participants were diagnosed with cancer during that time.
Those taking insulin had an increased risk of being diagnosed with cancer while those taking metformin had a reduced risk of a cancer diagnosis.
According to other studies, metformin could actually play a role in cancer treatment.
Researchers at the Kagawa University School of Medicine found stomach cancer cells treated with metformin were inhibited in their growth and reproduction.
This study was published in January 2012 in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapy.
Investigators at St.
Hedwig Hospital in Berlin, Germany, reported on a study of metformin and thyroid cancer in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Metformin was found to inhibit growth and cell division in thyroid cancer cells.
From this study it has been suggested the drug could be used as one kind of treatment for thyroid cancer in Type 2 diabetics.
A study reported in Diabetes Care in February 2012 compared rates of survival of British cancer sufferers taking, and not taking, metformin.
A total of 8,392 participants with Type 2 diabetes were included in this study.
The diabetics taking metformin showed better rates of survival than those taking sulfonylureas or insulin.
The study of the interactions of Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and anti-diabetic medication offers a promising future for the treatment of both diseases.
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