Oncodiabetology III. The relationship of antineoplastic therapies and carbohydrate metabolism

The epidemiological indicators of malignant diseases and diabetes are changing similarly, as lately both have been dynamically increasing worldwide. They occur usually in the same patient synchronously or metachronously, because of their common metabolic and molecular background. Consequently, in more and more cases they require common treatment. That has led to a new science, called oncodiabetology, the main purpose of which is to optimize the combination of antineoplastic and antidiabetic therapies. Regarding the antineoplastic agents, their complex influence on metabolism has to be considered, especially diabetogenic side effects inducing insulin-resistance and decreasing insulin production. According to antidiabetic agents’ role in preventing tumors, diminishing toxicity of cytostatic drugs, and promoting the breakthrough of chemoresistance should be considered. In this study, we investigate the contexts of antineoplastic agents’ efficiency and the glucometabolism of the organization, the characteristics of oncotherapy in patients suffering from malignant disease and diabetes, and review those cytostatic agents, having massive diabetogenic adverse effects. We describe the properties and subtypes of secondary diabetes, thoroughly discuss the specific characteristics of hyperglycaemia and diabetes caused by malignant diseases and antineoplastic treatments, especially pancreatic diabetes. In the end, we attempt to determine the proper place and role of oncodiabetology in the treatment of patients suffering from malignancies. During our investigation, we assessed the effects on glucometabolism of the recently used classic cytostatics, molecularly targeted therapies and different endocrine manipulations treating malignancies. We reviewed the schedules and scientific background of almost 300 medicines for this aim. We established that every third antineoplastic agent influenced glucometabolism adversely. We report our further observations in our next reviews.