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Rethinking the Relationship between Insulin and Cancer
R Vigneri1, L Sciacca1, P Vigneri2
1Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, Catania, Italy.
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|July 1, 2020
Summary
Insulin, a metabolic hormone, also acts as a growth factor. Elevated insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia) linked to metabolic diseases may increase cancer risk and mortality, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Metabolic Diseases
Background:
- Insulin functions as both a metabolic hormone and a growth factor.
- Malignant cells often exhibit overexpression of the insulin receptor, enhancing insulin's mitogenic effects.
- Metabolic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome are associated with hyperinsulinemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical relevance of the relationship between insulin and cancer.
- To address the lack of clarity in clinical studies regarding hyperinsulinemia's influence on cancer occurrence and prognosis.
- To advocate for improved scientific approaches focusing on hyperinsulinemia and carcinogenesis mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical studies on hyperinsulinemia and cancer.
- Analysis of the role of insulin as a growth factor in cell proliferation.
- Examination of the association between metabolic diseases, hyperinsulinemia, and cancer incidence/mortality.
Main Results:
- Hyperinsulinemia, common in metabolic diseases, is linked to increased cancer incidence and mortality.
- Insulin's mitogenic effect is more pronounced in malignant cells, often due to insulin receptor overexpression.
- The precise impact of hyperinsulinemia on cancer development and patient outcomes remains unclear.
Conclusions:
- The growing prevalence of metabolic diseases and insulin use highlights the clinical significance of the insulin-cancer link.
- Further research with refined scientific methodologies is needed to elucidate the mechanisms connecting hyperinsulinemia and carcinogenesis.
- Understanding this relationship is crucial for managing cancer risk in patients with metabolic disorders.
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