The association between type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus and the risk of leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 cohort studies

The risk of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia by metformin use and type 2 diabetes status - a Danish nation-wide cohort study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The treatment options for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have increased recently. However, drug resistance persists and patients who are ineligible for curative treatments still have a very poor prognosis. Previous studies support a general anti-neoplastic effect of metformin, and a recent preclinical investigation has shown that metformin may control the expansion of Dnmt3a clonal hematopoiesis, which is known to precede MDS and AML.

PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study we investigated the effect of metformin and type 2 diabetes (T2D) on the risk of developing MDS or AML. T2D was defined based on hospital diagnosis codes and glucose-lowering drug prescriptions. The study was performed as a cohort study with follow-up from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2017 using Danish national, population-based register data.

RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION

In all, 6,031,132 persons contributed to the study of whom 302,403 had T2D, and 295,365 received metformin. Median follow-up time among individuals with T2D was more than 5 years, and among individuals without T2D more than 15 years. Our analyses revealed no association between T2D (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.92-1.13]) or metformin use (HR 1.21 [95% CI 0.91-1.60]) and the risk of MDS or AML. However, when outcomes were studied separately, T2D was associated with an increased risk of MDS (HR 1.24 [95% CI 1.08-1.32]) but not with AML. Metformin use was not associated with MDS nor AML. Future studies should determine which patient groups may benefit from metformin to prevent MDS or AML development.

Semaglutide treatment for type 2 diabetes in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia: A case report and review of the literature

Background

Comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), severe obesity, and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) present therapeutic challenges, especially given the limited data on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in this setting.

Methods

We describe a 33-year-old female with poorly controlled T2DM (HbA1c 10.7%), severe obesity (BMI 47.05 kg/m2), and stable CML on tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. She received once-weekly semaglutide (0.5-1.5 mg) for 6 months, alongside insulin glargine and dapagliflozin/metformin. Clinical, biochemical, and molecular parameters were monitored.

Results

After 6 months, her HbA1c declined from 10.7 to 5.5%, fasting plasma glucose from 16.2 to 5.3 mmol/L, and body weight decreased by 18 kg. Lipid parameters improved, and molecular analysis confirmed continued CML remission (undetectable BCR-ABL1). The patient experienced only mild, transient gastrointestinal side effects.

Conclusion

In this complex case, semaglutide proved safe and effective for achieving glycemic control and weight reduction without compromising CML stability. These findings suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists may be a viable therapeutic option for patients with coexisting T2DM, severe obesity, and stable CML, warranting further investigation in broader populations.

Integrated Approach for Biomarker Discovery and Mechanistic Insights into the Co-Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the co-pathogenesis of T2DM and NHL.

Methods

Microarray datasets of T2DM and NHL were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Subsequently, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed based on the common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between T2DM and NHL to explore regulatory interactions. Functional analyses were performed to explore underlying mechanisms. Topological analysis and machine learning algorithms were applied to refine hub gene selection. Finally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate hub genes in clinical samples.

Results

Intersection analysis of DEGs from the T2DM and NHL datasets identified 81 shared genes. Functional analyses suggested that immune-related pathways played a significant role in the co-pathogenesis of T2DM and NHL. Topological analysis and machine learning identified three hub genes: GZMM, HSPG2, and SERPING1. Correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between these hub genes and immune cells, underscoring the importance of immune dysregulation in shared pathogenesis. The expression of these genes was successfully validated in clinical samples.

Conclusion

This study suggested the pivotal role of immune dysregulation in the co-pathogenesis of T2DM and NHL and identified and validated three hub genes as key contributors. These findings provide insight into the complex interplay between T2DM and NHL.

Molecular Secrets Revealed: How Diabetes may be Paving the Way for Leukemia

OPINION STATEMENT

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and leukemia are two major global health concerns, both contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological evidence demonstrates a strong correlation between T2DM and an increased risk of leukemia, particularly driven by insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and the resultant metabolic dysregulation. Key shared risk factors, including obesity and chronic inflammation, create a conducive environment for leukemogenesis, intensifying cancer cell proliferation and resistance to standard therapies. Insulin resistance, in particular, triggers oncogenic pathways such as PI3K/AKT and MAPK, exacerbating the aggressive phenotype seen in leukemia patients with T2DM. Additionally, clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is implicated in the higher leukemia risk observed in diabetic populations, especially among the elderly. Molecular mechanisms like the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system further highlight the intricate link between these diseases, promoting survival and proliferation of leukemia cells. The coexistence of T2DM in leukemia patients is associated with poorer prognostic outcomes, including increased susceptibility to infections, reduced survival, and greater treatment resistance. Antidiabetic agents, notably metformin and pioglitazone, show promise in enhancing chemotherapy efficacy and improving patient outcomes by targeting metabolic pathways. These results highlight the need for comprehensive treatment approaches that target both metabolic abnormalities and cancer-related mechanisms in patients suffering from both T2DM and leukemia.

Associations of heart failure to prevalence of haematologic- and solid malignancies in southern Sweden: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) and cancer are common diseases among the elderly population. Many chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM), share risk factors and increase the incidence of HF and cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate if there was an association between HF and the prevalence of haematologic- and solid malignancies.

METHODS

The study population was comprised of almost one million adults living in southern Sweden in 2015. All participants were divided into seven age groups from 20 and onwards, and 10 percentiles according to their socioeconomic status (SES). All data concerning diagnoses from each consultation in both primary- and secondary health care were collected during 18 months. The prevalence of haematologic and solid malignancies was measured separately for men and women, age groups, SES and multimorbidity levels. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the associations between HF and the probability of having haematologic- and solid malignancies in more complex models including stratifying variables.

RESULTS

People with HF had a higher prevalence of haematologic- and solid malignancies than the general population, but a lower prevalence of solid malignancies than the multimorbid population. The people with HF had an increased OR for haematologic malignancies, 1.69 (95% CI 1.51-1.90), and solid malignancies, OR 1.21 (95% CI 1.16-1.26), when adjusted for gender and age. In more complex multivariate models, multimorbidity explained the increased OR for haematologic- and solid malignancies in people with HF. Increasing socioeconomic deprivation was associated with a decreased risk for solid malignancies, with the lowest risk in the most socioeconomically deprived CNI-percentile.

CONCLUSIONS

HF was shown to be associated with malignancies, especially haematologic malignancies. Multimorbidity, however, was an even more important factor for both haematologic- and solid malignancies than HF in our study, but not socioeconomic deprivation. Further research on the interactions between the chronic conditions in people with HF is warranted to examine the strength of association between HF and malignancies.

Dual direction associations between common autoimmune diseases and leukemia among children and young adults: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Childhood leukemia and many autoimmune (AI) diseases are severe pediatric conditions with lifelong consequences. AI diseases form a heterogeneous disease group affecting about 5 % of children worldwide, while leukemia is the most common malignancy among children aged 0-14 years. The timing and similarities in suggested inflammatory and infectious triggers of AI disease and leukemia have raised a question whether the diseases share common etiological origins. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the evidence linking childhood leukemia and AI diseases.

DATA SOURCES

In the systematic literature search CINAHL (from 1970), Cochrane Library (form 1981), PubMed (from 1926) and Scopus (from 1948) were queried in June 2023.

REVIEW METHODS

We included studies covering the association between any AI disease and acute leukemia, limiting it to children and adolescents under 25 years old. The studies were reviewed independently by two researchers and the risk of bias was assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 2119 articles were screened and 253 studies were selected for detailed evaluation. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, of which eight were cohort studies and one was a systematic review. The diseases covered were type 1 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel diseases and juvenile arthritis alongside acute leukemia. Five cohort studies were suitable for more detailed analysis: a rate ratio for leukemia diagnosis after any AI disease was 2.46 (95 % CI 1.17-5.18; heterogeneity I2 15 %) with a random-effects model.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this systematic review indicate that AI diseases in childhood are associated with a moderately increased risk of leukemia. The association for individual AI diseases needs further investigation.

Repurposable Drugs for Immunotherapy and Strategies to Find Candidate Drugs

Conventional drug discovery involves significant steps, time, and expenses; therefore, novel methods for drug discovery remain unmet, particularly for patients with intractable diseases. For this purpose, the drug repurposing method has been recently used to search for new therapeutic agents. Repurposed drugs are mostly previously approved drugs, which were carefully tested for their efficacy for other diseases and had their safety for the human body confirmed following careful pre-clinical trials, clinical trials, and post-marketing surveillance. Therefore, using these approved drugs for other diseases that cannot be treated using conventional therapeutic methods could save time and economic costs for testing their clinical applicability. In this review, we have summarized the methods for identifying repurposable drugs focusing on immunotherapy.

Association between diabetes and cancer. Current mechanistic insights into the association and future challenges

Compelling pieces of epidemiological, clinical, and experimental research have demonstrated that Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor associated with increased cancer incidence and mortality in many human neoplasms. In the pathophysiology context of DM, many of the main classical actors are relevant elements that can fuel the different steps of the carcinogenesis process. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, metabolic inflammation, and dyslipidemia are among the classic contributors to this association. Furthermore, new emerging actors have received particular attention in the last few years, and compelling data support that the microbiome, the epigenetic changes, the reticulum endoplasmic stress, and the increased glycolytic influx also play important roles in promoting the development of many cancer types. The arsenal of glucose-lowering therapeutic agents used for treating diabetes is wide and diverse, and a growing body of data raised during the last two decades has tried to clarify the contribution of therapeutic agents to this association. However, this research area remains controversial, because some anti-diabetic drugs are now considered as either promotors or protecting elements. In the present review, we intend to highlight the compelling epidemiological shreds of evidence that support this association, as well as the mechanistic contributions of many of these potential pathological mechanisms, some controversial points as well as future challenges.

Repurposing Metformin in hematologic tumor: State of art

Metformin is an ancient drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and many studies now suggested that metformin can be used as an adjuvant drug in the treatment of many types of tumors. The mechanism of action of metformin for tumor treatment mainly involves: 1. activation of AMPK signaling pathway 2. inhibition of DNA damage repair in tumor cells 3. downregulation of IGF-1 expression 4. inhibition of chemoresistance and enhancement of chemotherapy sensitivity in tumor cells 5. enhancement of antitumor immunity 6. inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Metformin also plays an important role in the treatment of hematologic tumors, especially in leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma (MM). The combination of metformin and chemotherapy enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy, and metformin reduces the progression of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to MM. The purpose of this review is to summarize the anticancer mechanism of metformin and the role and mechanism of action of metformin in hematologic tumors. We mainly summarize the studies related to metformin in hematologic tumors, including cellular experiments and animal experiments, as well as controlled clinical studies and clinical trials. In addition, we also focus on the possible side effects of metformin. Although a large number of preclinical and clinical studies have been performed and the role of metformin in preventing the progression of MGUS to MM has been demonstrated, metformin has not been approved for the treatment of hematologic tumors, which is related to the adverse effects of its high-dose application. Low-dose metformin reduces adverse effects and has been shown to alter the tumor microenvironment and enhance antitumor immune response, which is one of the main directions for future research.

Bovine Meat and Milk Factors (BMMFs): Their Proposed Role in Common Human Cancers and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Simple Summary

This manuscript emphasizes the mechanistic differences of infectious agents contributing to human cancers either by “direct” or “indirect” interactions. The epidemiology of cancers linked to direct carcinogens differs (e.g., response to immunosuppression) from those cancers linked with indirect infectious interactions. We discuss their role in colon, breast, and prostate cancers and type II diabetes mellitus. A brief discussion covers the potential role of BMMF (bovine meat and milk factor) infections in acute myeloid leukemia.

Abstract

Exemplified by infections with bovine meat and milk factors (BMMFs), this manuscript emphasizes the different mechanistic aspects of infectious agents contributing to human cancers by “direct” or “indirect” interactions. The epidemiology of cancers linked to direct carcinogens (e.g., response to immunosuppression) differs from those cancers linked with indirect infectious interactions. Cancers induced by direct infectious carcinogens commonly increase under immunosuppression, whereas the cancer risk by indirect carcinogens is reduced. This influences their responses to preventive and therapeutic interferences. In addition, we discuss their role in colon, breast and prostate cancers and type II diabetes mellitus. A brief discussion covers the potential role of BMMF infections in acute myeloid leukemia.

Association between diabetes and acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, non-Hopkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma

Objective

Diabetes increases the risk for cancers. However, whether it is associated with hematologic malignancies is not clear. The present study investigated the association between diabetes and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (ML), non-Hopkin lymphoma (NHL), and multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods

Newly diagnosed adult cancer patients were recruited consecutively from our clinical database. Peoples from a local enterprise were recruited to create a small-scale population-based dataset. We compared the diabetes prevalence between the cancer patients and the local people; an increase in diabetes prevalence in the cancer patients suggests an association between diabetes and the cancer(s).

Results

We found that the prevalence of diabetes was 19.7%, 21.3%, 12.5%, and 12.0% in ALL, AML, NHL, and MM, respectively, which was higher than that (9.1%) in the local people. Despite that there were more male than female cancer patients, there were more female than male diabetic patients. The increase in diabetes prevalence occurred in ALL and NHL patients aged 18 to 39 years old as well as in AML patients over 40. In MM patients, the increase in diabetes prevalence (18.6%) occurred only in females. Approximately 70% of the diabetic patients were undiagnosed before the diagnosis of the blood cancer. Approximately half of the pre-existing diabetic patients had anti-diabetic treatment, with over 70% of them still had poor glycemic control.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that diabetes is associated with ALL, AML, NHL, and MM, at least in adult patients.

Common Genetic Aberrations Associated with Metabolic Interferences in Human Type-2 Diabetes and Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Bioinformatics Approach

Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder, associated with an increased risk of developing solid tumors and hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the genetic background underlying this predisposition remains elusive. We herein aimed at the exploration of the genetic variants, related transcriptomic changes and disturbances in metabolic pathways shared by T2D and AML, utilizing bioinformatics tools and repositories, as well as publicly available clinical datasets. Our approach revealed that rs11709077 and rs1801282, on PPARG, rs11108094 on USP44, rs6685701 on RPS6KA1 and rs7929543 on AC118942.1 comprise common SNPs susceptible to the two diseases and, together with 64 other co-inherited proxy SNPs, may affect the expression patterns of metabolic genes, such as USP44, METAP2, PPARG, TIMP4 and RPS6KA1, in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, liver, pancreas and whole blood. Most importantly, a set of 86 AML/T2D common susceptibility genes was found to be significantly associated with metabolic cellular processes, including purine, pyrimidine, and choline metabolism, as well as insulin, AMPK, mTOR and PI₃K signaling. Moreover, it was revealed that the whole blood of AML patients exhibits deregulated expression of certain T2D-related genes. Our findings support the existence of common metabolic perturbations in AML and T2D that may account for the increased risk for AML in T2D patients. Future studies may focus on the elucidation of these pathogenetic mechanisms in AML/T2D patients, as well as on the assessment of certain susceptibility variants and genes as potential biomarkers for AML development in the setting of T2D. Detection of shared therapeutic molecular targets may enforce the need for repurposing metabolic drugs in the therapeutic management of AML.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and risk of head and neck cancer subtypes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

AIMS

The association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and risk of head and neck cancer (HNC) remains unclear. This study aims to perform a system review and meta-analysis to explore this relationship.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for studies published up to July 31, 2020, regarding the association between T2DM and HNC risk. A random-effects model was utilized to calculate summary relative risks (RRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Fourteen case-control studies and thirteen cohort studies were included in our analysis. We observed a weak association between T2DM and risk of HNC overall, but there was no statistical significance (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.88-1.23; I² = 83.2%). Interestingly, there was a strong association in East Asia (RR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.21-1.77; I² = 36.6%). For HNC subtypes, T2DM conferred a significantly elevated risk in oral cancer (RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.01-1.47; I² = 89.0%). However, in subgroup analyses of smoking, alcohol use, and body mass index (BMI)/obesity adjustments, the association between T2DM and oral cancer risk became insignificant. In addition, T2DM was not associated with a statistically elevated risk of pharyngeal cancer (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.94-1.49; I² = 72.9%) and laryngeal cancer (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.88-1.22; I² = 71.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis indicates that T2DM is associated with an increased risk of HNC in East Asia. As for site-specific cancer types, the risk of oral cancer was significantly increased in T2DM patients, which appear to be mediated or confounded by smoking, alcohol use, or BMI/obesity.