New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Is type 2 diabetes mellitus a risk factor for gallbladder, biliary and pancreatic cancer?

Date:
November 19, 2009
Source:
World Journal of Gastroenterology
Summary:
Presently, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with cardiovascular complications, and also with several cancers. A research group from USA has investigated the association of gallbladder, biliary and pancreatic cancer in hospitalized American veterans with and without type 2 DM. Among patients with type 2 DM, the risk of pancreatic cancer was threefold higher and that for gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary cancer was twofold higher compared to hospitalized patients without DM.
Share:
FULL STORY

There are minimal data assessing the relationship between diabetes with gallbladder, biliary and pancreatic cancer. Recent small studies have suggested an elevated risk of pancreatic cancer only in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

A research article published on November 14, 2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. The research team, lead by Dr. Jamal at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, California, performed a retrospective search of type 2 DM patients matched to non-diabetic controls, discharged from Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals from 1990 to 2000, for the presence of gallbladder, biliary and pancreatic cancer. The database search identified 1 172 496 cases and control subjects for analysis. There was no difference in mean age between the case and control groups. Among patients with type 2 DM, the incidence of pancreatic cancer was increased threefold compared to controls, and gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary cancers were increased by twofold compared to controls.

This is the first study to provide a comprehensive assessment of the risk for gallbladder, biliary and pancreatic cancers in a large cohort of patients with type 2 DM. This study suggests future avenues for investigation to determine preventive measures and screening implementation strategies, to limit the impact of these tumors in the veteran as well as general type 2 DM population in the United States.


Story Source:

Materials provided by World Journal of Gastroenterology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Jamal et al. Diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for gastrointestinal cancer among American veterans. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2009; 15 (42): 5274 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.15.5274

Cite This Page:

World Journal of Gastroenterology. "Is type 2 diabetes mellitus a risk factor for gallbladder, biliary and pancreatic cancer?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 November 2009. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091119101213.htm>.
World Journal of Gastroenterology. (2009, November 19). Is type 2 diabetes mellitus a risk factor for gallbladder, biliary and pancreatic cancer?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091119101213.htm
World Journal of Gastroenterology. "Is type 2 diabetes mellitus a risk factor for gallbladder, biliary and pancreatic cancer?." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091119101213.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES