Research Connects Type 2 Diabetes to Certain Cancers Linked to Obesity
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Synopsis
Recent research has identified a significant link between new cases of type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of certain cancers related to obesity, though not all. Findings highlight disparities in risk between genders and suggest further investigation is needed to understand the underlying biological mechanisms.
Key Takeaways
- New cases of T2D linked to obesity-related cancers.
- 48% increased cancer risk for men with new-onset T2D.
- 24% increased cancer risk for women with new-onset T2D.
- Study presented at ECO 2025 in Malaga, Spain.
- Need for further investigation into sex differences in cancer risk.
London, March 23 (NationPress) A recent study has established a connection between a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and an increased likelihood of developing specific cancers associated with obesity, though not all such cancers. Previous studies have indicated links between type 2 diabetes mellitus and a heightened risk for a variety of obesity-related cancers.
Nevertheless, the causal nature of these associations remains ambiguous, complicating factors including obesity as a shared risk element; immortal time bias (wherein studies mix existing and new-onset T2D cases); or time detection bias (for instance, the simultaneous diagnosis of two prevalent conditions).
In this investigation, set to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025, Malaga, Spain, May 11-14), the researchers sought to rectify these earlier methodological issues.
They conducted a matched cohort control study utilizing the UK Biobank, comparing new-onset T2D (identified by the date of first reported non-insulin dependent diabetes) against unexposed individuals matched (1 participant to 3 controls) by body mass index (BMI), age, and gender.
A total of 23,750 T2D participants were paired with 71,123 controls. Over an average follow-up period of 5 years, 2,431 new primary cancers were observed among T2D participants, compared to 5,184 among matched controls.
The analysis revealed that new-onset T2D was linked to a 48% increased risk of obesity-related cancers in men and a 24% increase in women—this risk was independent of BMI. However, no associations were found with several site-specific obesity-related cancers (ORCs), particularly endometrial and post-menopausal breast cancer in women.
Additionally, significant associations were noted: new-onset T2D raised the risk of bowel cancer by 27% in men and 34% in women; pancreatic cancer risk surged by 74% in men and nearly doubled in women. For liver cancer, new-onset T2D was correlated with a roughly quadrupled risk in men and a nearly fivefold increase in women.
“Currently, we cannot determine if the observed differences between sexes stem from biological factors such as hormone levels, insulin sensitivity, and body fat distribution, or if they are simply the result of chance variations in cancer occurrences between men and women within the UK Biobank,” stated the study authors.
