Body mass index, diabetes and survival after diagnosis of endometrial cancer: A report from the HUNT-Survey

Insulin Resistance: The Increased Risk of Cancers

Insulin resistance, also known as impaired insulin sensitivity, is the result of a decreased reaction of insulin signaling to blood glucose levels. This state is observed when muscle cells, adipose tissue, and liver cells, improperly respond to a particular concentration of insulin. Insulin resistance and related increased plasma insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia) may cause metabolic impairments, which are pathological states observed in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Observations of cancer patients confirm that hyperinsulinemia is a major factor influencing obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Obesity and diabetes have been reported as risks of the initiation, progression, and metastasis of several cancers. However, both of the aforementioned pathologies may independently and additionally increase the cancer risk. The state of metabolic disorders observed in cancer patients is associated with poor outcomes of cancer treatment. For example, patients suffering from metabolic disorders have higher cancer recurrence rates and their overall survival is reduced. In these associations between insulin resistance and cancer risk, an overview of the various pathogenic mechanisms that play a role in the development of cancer is discussed.

Lipid profile, ox-LDL, and LCAT activity in patients with endometrial carcinoma and type 2 diabetes: The effect of concurrent disease based on a case-control study

Background and Aim

The role of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in endometrial cancer (EC) or EC with concurrent type 2 diabetes is still unclear. This study investigated the LCAT activity, ox-LDL, and lipid profile in EC patients with or without type 2 diabetes and compared them with healthy individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes alone.

Methods

In this cross-sectional, case-control study, 93 female participants were recruited. The participants were divided into four groups, including EC with type 2 diabetes (n = 19), EC without type 2 diabetes (n = 17), type 2 diabetes (n = 31), and healthy controls (n = 26). Sociodemographic information, the LCAT activity, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and ox-LDL levels were collected. One-way analysis of variance and analysis of covariance, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and χ 2-test were used to compare demographic features and laboratory results among studied groups. Regression analyses were also performed to evaluate the interaction effect between EC and type 2 diabetes on serum LCAT activity.

Results

The LCAT activity was significantly lower, and ox-LDL levels were significantly higher in all patient groups compared to the healthy controls (p < 0.001). EC patients had significantly lower LCAT activity and higher ox-LDL levels than type 2 diabetes and healthy groups (p < 0.05). Higher levels of TG and lower levels of HDL-C were observed in all patient groups compared to the healthy group (all p < 0.001). Patients with EC and concomitant type 2 diabetes had significantly lower serum LDL-C levels than healthy and type 2 diabetes groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The combination of EC and type 2 diabetes had a subadditive effect on LCAT activity and ox-LDL level. The lowest LCAT activity and the highest ox-LDL levels were observed in patients with EC and concurrent type 2 diabetes.

Survival outcomes in endometrial cancer patients according to diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is an established risk factor for endometrial cancer development but its impact on prognosis is unclear and epidemiological studies to date have produced inconsistent results. We aimed to conduct the first systematic review and meta-analysis to compare survival outcomes in endometrial cancer patients with and without pre-existing diabetes.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases up to February 2022 for observational studies that investigated the association between pre-existing diabetes and cancer-specific survival in endometrial cancer patients. Secondary outcomes included overall survival and progression or recurrence-free survival. Quality assessment of included studies was undertaken using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and a random-effects model was used to produce pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). (PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020196088).

RESULTS

In total, 31 studies were identified comprising 55,475 endometrial cancer patients. Pooled results suggested a worse cancer-specific survival in patients with compared to patients without diabetes (n = 17 studies, HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.00-1.32, I2 = 62%). Similar results were observed for progression or recurrence-free survival (n = 6 studies, HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.47, I2 = 0%) and for overall survival (n = 24 studies, HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.31-1.54, I2 = 46%).

CONCLUSION

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we show that diabetes is associated with a worse cancer-specific and overall survival in endometrial cancer patients.

Obesity and mortality among endometrial cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Excess body fat is a major risk factor for endometrial cancer incidence, but its impact on recurrence and survival remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the association between excess body fat with recurrence, cancer-specific, and all-cause mortality among endometrial cancer survivors. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases up to July 2021. Risk of bias was assessed with the Ottawa Newcastle Scale. Random effects models estimated pooled hazard ratios for the main associations between body mass index (BMI) and survival outcomes and stratified by endometrial cancer type. Potential heterogeneity and publication bias were evaluated with sensitivity analyses, funnel plots, and Egger's test. Forty-six studies were included, of which 45 estimated body fat with BMI and six used direct waist circumference measures or CT/MRI scans. Higher BMI (≥30 kg/m² ) was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR = 1.34, 95%CI = 1.12-1.59) and recurrence (HR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.06-1.56). In sub-group analysis, associations between higher BMI and all-cause mortality were observed for both Types I and II survivors, while recurrence associations were only significant among Type I cases. Obesity at endometrial cancer diagnosis was associated with increased cancer recurrence and all-cause mortality among endometrial cancer survivors but not endometrial cancer-specific mortality.

Variation in physician-directed immunohistochemistry screening among women with endometrial cancer

Objective

Immunohistochemistry screening is a reliable method for identifying women with endometrial cancer who are at risk for Lynch syndrome, but clinical workflows used to implement immunohistochemistry screening protocols can vary by institution. The goal of this study was to investigate variation in performance of immunohistochemistry screening when a physician order is required.

Methods

Retrospective study from an integrated healthcare system with a risk-based immunohistochemistry screening policy for Lynch syndrome from January 2015 to December 2016. Immunohistochemistry screening was indicated for all women with endometrial cancer aged <60 years and women with endometrial cancer aged ≥60 years who had a personal/family history suggestive of Lynch syndrome. However, a physician order was needed to have immunohistochemistry screening performed on the tumor specimen as our health system did not have reflex screening in the clinical workflow. Demographics and tumor characteristics were reviewed, and patients were stratified by immunohistochemistry screening status. Multivariable regression was performed to identify factors associated with immunohistochemistry performance and reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

There were 1399 eligible patients in the study. With a required physician order, immunohistochemistry screening rates (20% overall, 34% aged <60 years) were significantly lower than previous reports (36% overall, 90% aged <60 years, p≤0.0001 for both comparisons). Significant factors associated with immunohistochemistry screening performance identified by multivariable analysis included age, race, body mass index, personal/family cancer history, diabetes, endometrioid histology, and tumor grade. Asian women were most likely to have immunohistochemistry screening (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.34) whereas black women were least likely (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.91).

Conclusions

Immunohistochemistry screening rates in women with endometrial cancer were lower in our health system compared with prior reports in the literature, and there were variations in screening performance according to patient age, race, and body mass index. Requiring a physician order for immunohistochemistry screening likely creates a barrier in screening uptake, therefore automated immunohistochemistry screening is recommended.

Diabetes and cancer: Epidemiological and biological links

The incidence of diabetes and cancer has increased significantly in recent years. Furthermore, there are many common risk factors for both diabetes and cancer, such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and ageing. A large body of epidemiological evidence has indicated that diabetes is considered as an independent risk factor for increased rates of heterogeneous types of cancer occurrence and death. The incidence and mortality of various types of cancer, such as pancreas, liver, colorectal, breast, endometrial, and bladder cancers, have a modest growth in diabetics. However, diabetes may work as a protective factor for prostate cancer. Although the underlying biological mechanisms have not been totally understood, studies have validated that insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis (including insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and IGF), hyperglycemia, inflammatory cytokines, and sex hormones provide good circumstances for cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Insulin/IGF axis activates several metabolic and mitogenic signaling pathways; hyperglycemia provides energy for cancer cell growth; inflammatory cytokines influence cancer cell apoptosis. Thus, these three factors affect all types of cancer, while sex hormones only play important roles in breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and prostate cancer. This minireview consolidates and discusses the epidemiological and biological links between diabetes and various types of cancer.

Serum HSP70 level in patients with endometrial cancer with and without diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased risk of endometrial carcinoma (EC). Heat shock proteins have a role in the modulation of both diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate extracellular HSP70 (eHSP70) level alternations in patients with two different types of EC (endometrioid and non-endometrioid) with and without type 2 diabetes. In a case-control study, 88 participants were enrolled in four groups including: 18 EC patients with DM, 19 EC patients without DM, 29 patients with DM, and 22 healthy individuals. Blood samples were taken before surgery in cancer patients. Estradiol, eHSP70, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), FBS, and HbA1c were assessed. Serum HSP70 level was higher in patients with diabetes (52.24 ± 14.2 ng/ml) compared to healthy controls (39.04 ± 6.96) (p < .05). It was lower in EC (26.05 ± 12.28) compared to healthy controls (39.04 ± 6.96) (p < .05). eHSP70 was also lower in endometrioid-type carcinoma (22.57 ± 11) compared to non-endometrioid type (31.55 ± 12.38) (p < .05). Further analysis showed increased levels of eHSP70 in patients having both endometrioid-type carcinoma and diabetes (27.23 ± 11.41) compared to the same patients without DM (17.08 ± 7.78) (p < .05). Presence of diabetes in patients with endometrioid type carcinoma resulted in an increase in eHSP70 approaching the level of eHSP70 in patients with non-endometrioid histology.

Inflammatory, oxidative stress and anti-oxidative markers in patients with endometrial carcinoma and diabetes

BACKGROUND

The role of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in the development of diabetes and cancer has been established. In this study, we aimed to investigate inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in patients with diabetes (DM) and endometrial carcinoma (EC) separately and in combination.

METHODS

In a case-control study design, a total of 88 participants were enrolled including: 37 patients with EC (19 with DM and 18 without DM), 29 with type2 diabetes and 22 healthy controls. Cancer patients were sampled before treatment. Serum oxidative stress markers including: oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL,) nitric oxide (NO), advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA); ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), as an antioxidant marker, and inflammatory markers including: Interleukin 6 (IL6), C reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) were measured.

RESULTS

Ox-LDL, NO, MDA, AOPP and AGE were increased in all patients either with endometrial carcinoma and/or diabetes compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Patients with both EC and DM had higher oxidative markers including: OX-LDL (17.47 ± 0.84 vs. 12.36 ± 0.91), NO (82.27 ± 5.75 vs. 76.34 ± 5.36), MDA (3.3 ± 0.1 vs. 2.75 ± 0.48) and AGE (73.89 ± 5.71 vs. 69.02 ± 3.14) compared to those with EC alone (ρ < 0.05). Levels of FRAP was lower in patients with both diabetes and cancer, cancer alone and diabetes alone compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Inflammatory markers, TNFα, IL6 and hs-CRP, were also significantly increased in patients with EC with and without DM compared to controls (ρ < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between two groups of EC regarding to inflammatory markers (ρ > 0.05). Patients with DM had significantly higher levels of inflammatory markers compared to control group (all ρ < 0.05). In addition, significant subadditive interaction effect between EC and DM regarding levels of oxLDL, NO, AGE, AOPP and FRAP) was observed (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Increased levels of chronic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were observed in both endometrial carcinoma and diabetes. Additional effect of diabetes in patients with cancer was mediated more significantly via increase in oxidative stress rather than inflammatory markers.

Influence of Body Mass Index on Tumor Pathology and Survival in Uterine Cancer: A Danish Register Study

Objective

To evaluate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on endometrial tumor pathology, stage and complication rate and to identify individual prognostic factors, such as BMI, in types I and II endometrial cancer.

Design

Register study included all Danish women who underwent surgery for uterine cancer or atypical endometrial hyperplasia (International Classification of Diseases-10 codes D070, DC549) 2005 to 2012 (n = 6003).

Main Outcome Measures

Impact of BMI on type I and II endometrial cancer survival.

Materials and Methods

Danish Gynecological Cancer Database data on women with type I and II endometrial cancer were retrieved. Kaplan-Meier plot was used to illustrate differences in survival in relation to BMI. Log-rank test was used to demonstrate difference between the curves. Cox regression hazard model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) of the effect of BMI on overall survival.

Results

Four thousand three hundred thirty women were included. Women with type I cancer had a significantly better overall survival compared with those with type II cancer. Low BMI was associated with increased mortality in type I (HR, 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–3.55), whereas in type II both low (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.03–2.74) and high BMI (BMI, 30–35: HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.01–2.26 and BMI >40: HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.12–4.11) were significantly associated with increased mortality.

Conclusion

Abnormal BMI is associated with increased mortality in subtypes of endometrial cancer. Underweight was associated with increased overall mortality in both types I and II, whereas obesity only disclosed a significant impact on overall mortality in type II.

PALM-COEIN Nomenclature for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Approximately 30% of women will experience abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) during their life time. Previous terms defining AUB have been confusing and imprecisely applied. As a consequence, both clinical management and research on this common problem have been negatively impacted. In 2011, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Menstrual Disorders Group (FMDG) published PALM-COEIN, a new classification system for abnormal bleeding in the reproductive years. Terms such as menorrhagia, menometrorrhagia, metrorrhagia, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, and uterine hemorrhage are no longer recommended. The PALM-COEIN system was developed to standardize nomenclature to describe the etiology and severity of AUB. A brief description of the PALM-COEIN nomenclature is presented as well as treatment options for each etiology. Clinicians will frequently encounter women with AUB and should report findings utilizing the PALM-COEIN system.

Obesity and Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women worldwide and the most common gynecologic malignancy in the developed world. This chapter explores the current epidemiologic evidence on the association between obesity and endometrial cancer risk and mortality. Using body mass index (BMI) as a measure of obesity, we found that obesity (defined as BMI > 30 and < 35 kg/m²) was associated with a 2.6-fold increase in endometrial cancer risk, while severe obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m²) was associated with a 4.7-fold increase compared to normal-weight women (BMI < 25 kg/m²). Increased central adiposity also increased endometrial cancer risk by 1.5- to twofold. Among both healthy and endometrial cancer patient populations, obesity was associated with a roughly twofold increase in endometrial cancer-specific mortality. This risk reduction was also observed for obesity and all-cause mortality among endometrial cancer patients. In the few studies that assessed risk associated with weight change, an increased endometrial cancer risk with weight gain and weight cycling was observed, whereas some evidence for a protective effect of weight loss was found. Furthermore, early-life obesity was associated with a moderately increased risk of endometrial cancer later in life. There are several mechanisms whereby obesity is hypothesized to increase endometrial cancer risk, including increased endogenous sex steroid hormones, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and adipokines. Further research should focus on histological subtypes or molecular phenotypes of endometrial tumors and population subgroups that could be at an increased risk of obesity-associated endometrial cancer. Additionally, studies on weight gain, loss or cycling and weight loss interventions can provide mechanistic insight into the obesity-endometrial cancer association. Sufficient evidence exists to recommend avoiding obesity to reduce endometrial cancer risk.