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Pancreatic Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus

  • Pancreas (V Chandrasekhara, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of review

The relationship between pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and diabetes mellitus (DM) is complex. We reviewed the recent medical literature regarding the effect of anti-diabetic medication on PDAC risk and survival, risk of PDAC in DM, and role of DM in early detection of PDAC.

Recent findings

Studies report that while some anti-diabetic medications (e.g., metformin) may decrease the risk of PDAC, others (insulin, sulfonylureas and incretin-based therapies) may increase the risk. However, these observations may be subject to protopathic biases. Metformin’s anti-tumor activity may have influence overall survival of PDAC, but epidemiological reports have largely been inconsistent to defend these findings due to heterogeneous methodologies. There is congruent data to support the association between DM and PDAC, with an inverse relationship to DM duration. Older subjects with new-onset DM are the only known high-risk group for PDAC, and strategy using this group for early detection has led to development of clinical risk prediction models that define a very high-risk PDAC group.

Summary

Role of anti-diabetic medication in PDAC risk modification or survival is controversial. With successful efforts to distinguish type 2-DM from PDAC-DM using risk-stratifying models, there is an opportunity to initiate screening protocols for early detection of PDAC in a sub-set of DM subjects.

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Abbreviations

ADM:

Anti-diabetes medication

DM:

Diabetes mellitus

NOD:

New-onset diabetes

PDAC:

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Sciences, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Ayush Sharma MBBS & Suresh T. Chari MD

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  1. Ayush Sharma MBBS
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Correspondence to Suresh T. Chari MD.

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Suresh Chari reports grants from NIH and the Kenner Family Research foundation, during the conduct of the study.

Ayush Sharma declares no conflict of interest.

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Sharma, A., Chari, S.T. Pancreatic Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus. Curr Treat Options Gastro 16, 466–478 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11938-018-0197-8

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