Incidence and disease course of new-onset diabetes mellitus in breast and colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A prospective multicenter cohort study

Clinicopathological Factors and Interleukin-6 Levels Associated With Low Relative Dose Intensity in Women With Breast Cancer Receiving First-Line Chemotherapy

Background

Chemotherapy has a substantial role in decreasing the risk of recurrence and mortality in breast cancer (BC) in a dose-dependent manner where a low relative dose intensity (RDI) is associated with unfavorable outcomes. Several baseline clinicopathological factors, including pro-inflammatory biomarkers, were found to be significant determinants of low RDI. This study aimed to explore the occurrence of low RDI and its influencing factors in women with BC.

Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited 172 women with stage I-IV BC who received first-line chemotherapy. We collected patients' clinical, pathological, and treatment data and analyzed the pre-chemotherapy C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels using a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We calculated the RDI based on the actual and planned delivered chemotherapy dose (mg/m2) and duration (weeks). RDI less than 85% was defined as "low". Multivariate analysis with logistic regression was conducted to determine the association between pre-chemotherapy parameters and RDI < 85%.

Results

The mean CRP level was 10.82 ± 19.17 mg/L (0.00 - 151.73 mg/L) and the mean IL-6 level was 1.12 ± 3.41 pg/mL (0.00 - 27.67 pg/mL). The average RDI for all patients was 93±8.19%. An RDI < 85% occurred in 23 patients (13.4%). The presence of diabetes mellitus (odds ratio (OR): 4.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03 - 22.27, P = 0.046), triple-negative tumors (OR: 6.45, 95% CI: 1.39 - 29.83, P = 0.017), and IL-6 levels > 0.5 pg/mL (OR: 3.45, 95% CI: 1.01 - 11.79, P = 0.049) was associated with an increased low RDI risk.

Conclusion

The proportion of BC patients receiving a low chemotherapy RDI in our study was comparable to published literature and drove close monitoring of patients at risk to provide adequate management.

The impact of surgery and oncological treatment on risk of type 2 diabetes onset in patients with colorectal cancer: nationwide cohort study in Denmark

Background

Comorbidity with type 2 diabetes (T2D) results in worsening of cancer-specific and overall prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The treatment of CRC per se may be diabetogenic. We assessed the impact of different types of surgical cancer resections and oncological treatment on risk of T2D development in CRC patients.

Methods

We developed a population-based cohort study including all Danish CRC patients, who had undergone CRC surgery between 2001 and 2018. Using nationwide register data, we identified and followed patients from date of surgery and until new onset of T2D, death, or end of follow-up.

Results

In total, 46,373 CRC patients were included and divided into six groups according to type of surgical resection: 10,566 Right-No-Chemo (23%), 4645 Right-Chemo (10%), 10,151 Left-No-Chemo (22%), 5257 Left-Chemo (11%), 9618 Rectal-No-Chemo (21%), and 6136 Rectal-Chemo (13%). During 245,466 person-years of follow-up, 2556 patients developed T2D. The incidence rate (IR) of T2D was highest in the Left-Chemo group 11.3 (95% CI: 10.4-12.2) per 1000 person-years and lowest in the Rectal-No-Chemo group 9.6 (95% CI: 8.8-10.4). Between-group unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of developing T2D was similar and non-significant. In the adjusted analysis, Rectal-No-Chemo was associated with lower T2D risk (HR 0.86 [95% CI 0.75-0.98]) compared to Right-No-Chemo.For all six groups, an increased level of body mass index (BMI) resulted in a nearly twofold increased risk of developing T2D.

Conclusions

This study suggests that postoperative T2D screening should be prioritised in CRC survivors with overweight/obesity regardless of type of CRC treatment applied.

Funding

The Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF17SA0031406); TrygFonden (101390; 20045; 125132).

Hyperglycemia and Glycemic Variability Associated with Glucocorticoids in Women without Pre-Existing Diabetes Undergoing Neoadjuvant or Adjuvant Taxane Chemotherapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Glucocorticoids, which are administered with chemotherapy, cause hyperglycemia. Glycemic variability among breast cancer patients without diabetes is not well known. A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving early-stage breast cancer patients without diabetes who received dexamethasone prior to neoadjuvant or adjuvant taxane chemotherapy between August 2017-December 2019. Random blood glucose levels were analyzed, and steroid-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) was defined as a random glucose level of >140 mg/dL. A multivariate proportional hazards model was used to identify the risk factors of SIH. Out of 100 patients, the median age was 53 years (IQR: 45-63.5). A total of 45% of patients were non-Hispanic White, 28% Hispanic, 19% Asian, and 5% African American. The incidence of SIH was 67%, and glycemic fluctuations were highest in those with glucose levels of >200 mg/dL. Non-Hispanic White patients represented a significant predictor for time to SIH, with a hazard ratio of 2.5 (95% CI: 1.04, 5.95, p = 0.039). SIH was transient in over 90% of the patients, and only seven patients remained hyperglycemic after glucocorticoid and chemotherapy completion. Pretaxane dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia was observed in 67% of the patients, with the greatest glycemic lability in those patients with blood glucose levels of >200 mg/dL. The non-Hispanic White patients had a higher risk of developing SIH.

New onset of type 2 diabetes after colorectal cancer diagnosis: Results from three prospective US cohort studies, systematic review, and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Limited data indicate that patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). We prospectively examined the risk of T2D between individuals with and without CRC in three large cohorts and conducted a meta-analysis.

METHODS

We assessed the diagnosis of CRC and T2D among 111,485 women from the Nurses' Health Study, 112,958 women from the Nurses' Health Study II, and 46,581 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. We used multivariable Cox regression with time-varying covariates to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) of T2D in relation to CRC diagnosis. We further performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

FINDINGS

Up to 36 years of follow-up (6.9 million person-years), we documented 3402 incident CRC cases and 26,469 T2D cases. Compared to non-CRC individuals, those with CRC were more likely to develop T2D (multivariable-adjusted HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05-1.38). The association was most evident for individuals with fewer risk factors for T2D. In the meta-analysis of seven cohort studies (1,061,744 participants), CRC was associated with higher T2D risk (meta-analysis HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.11-1.31, I2 = 57.9%). By CRC duration, a statistically significant association was observed in the first 10 years but not after 10 years of CRC diagnosis (≤5 years, meta-analysis HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.27-1.36; 5.1-10 years, 1.14 [1.04-1.25]; >10 years, 1.14 [0.91-1.37]).

INTERPRETATION

CRC was associated with increased T2D risk, especially in the first ten years after CRC diagnosis. Our findings highlight the importance of T2D prevention for CRC survivorship care.

FUNDING

NHS cohort infrastructure grant (UM1 CA186107), NHS program project grant that funds cancer research (P01 CA87969), NHS II cohort infrastructure grant (U01 CA176726), HPFS cohort infrastructure grant (U01 CA167552) and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2021-I2M-1-010).

Systemic Evaluation of the Effect of Diabetes Mellitus on Breast Cancer in a Mouse Model

Breast cancer complicated with diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common disease. To evaluate the effect of preexisting DM on breast cancer progression without drug interference, we used a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus BALB/c mouse model. We found that 4T1 breast cancer complicated with DM decreased the mouse survival time compared with 4T1-bearing mice. The diversity of gut microbiome was affected by DM. The infiltration of mucosal-associated invariant T cell (MAIT), CD8+ T cell, and CD4+ T cell in the tumor was significantly decreased in the DM-4T1 group compared with the 4T1 group. The transcriptome data of tumor tissues indicated that the expressions of inflammatory C–C chemokine- and metabolism-related genes were greatly changed. The abnormal expression of these genes may be related with the decreased T-cell infiltration in DM-4T1. In conclusion, the gut microbiome and tumor microenvironment of diabetic breast cancer patients have unique features. The effect of diabetes on breast cancer should be considered in the treatment for diabetic breast cancer patients.