[Correlations of insulin resistance and neoplasms]

Insulin resistance is a worldwide risk factor for the two most dangerous human disease groups; namely, for cardiovascular lesions and malignancies. The insulin resistance syndrome have five basic criteria: hyperglycemia, visceral obesity, elevated serum triglyceride level, low HDL-cholesterol level (dyslipidemia) and hypertension. Each of these criteria alone are risk factors for cancer, and they mean together a multiple risk. Insulin resistance of the liver, skeletal muscles, and fatty tissue leads to a reactive hyperinsulinemia by the increased secretory activity of the beta-cells. Insulin has diverse metabolic effects, and at the same time is a growth factor. It enhances the production and mitogenic activity of other, insulin-like growth factors, and leads to pathological cell proliferation. In the uncompensated phase of insulin resistance hyperglycemia appears, which promotes tumor genesis by several pathways. The elevated serum glucose level is advantageous for the increased DNA synthesis of the tumor cells. It provokes deliberation of free radicals, which will cause derangement of both the DNA and the enzymes having a role in the repair mechanisms. Hyperglycemia leads to a nonenzymatic glycation of protein structures, and the glycated products enhance the deliberation of free radicals, cytokines and growth factors. Insulin resistance means an enhanced risk for breast, pancreas, liver, colon, bladder, prostate and oral cavity cancers. The moderately increased fasting glucose level is also a risk factor for breast, stomach and colon cancers, even without manifestation of type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance promotes tumor progression as well. In cancer patients with hyperglycemia or type 2 diabetes, the rate of tumor recurrence, metastatic spread and fatal outcome is higher as compared with the tumor patients without metabolic disease. The correlation between insulin resistance and tumor promotion reveals new possibilities in the prevention and treatment of cancer. The healthy diet, physical activity and weight loss increase insulin sensitivity, and decrease the risk for both cardiovascular diseases and malignancies.