Abstract
Breast cancer is the leading neoplastic malignancy among females worldwide. Another
major health problem in industrial countries is diabetes mellitus type 2, both with
a raising tendency. Up to 16% of the elderly breast cancer patients additionally suffer
from diabetes. Epidemiologic studies suggest that type 2 diabetes increases breast
cancer risk and goes along with an increased mortality however, there has been limited
experimental evidence supporting this association. In the present review we summarized
epidemiological data on a correlation between diabetes and breast cancer. Further,
the diverse hypothesized molecular investigations and purposed mechanisms are recapitulated.
The latest discussions on insulin and its enhancement of cancer rates among patients
with diabetes have also toughed the breast cancer sector. In contrary, recent data
indicate a benefit of breast cancer treatment due to metformin therapy. A large amount
of literature is available and provides concepts for future research that is needed
to rule out possible overlapping pathomechanism, prognostic factors, therapy interactions
as well as possible synergistic or additive or even controversial interaction of chemotherapy
and diabetes medication.
Key words
breast cancer - diabetes mellitus - cancer
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Correspondence
S. Scho1ttMD
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Germany
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eMail: sarah.schott@med.uni-heidelberg.de
