How should we treat glucose intolerance as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The number of patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing year by year, and approximately one out of five adults may have diabetes. DM is well known to be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. If we could clearly identify more high risk individuals among this population, it could lead to early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer. AIM: To identify biomarkers of pancreatic cancer in diabetic patients. METHODS: We examined the clinical features of 39 pancreatic cancer patients with DM. RESULTS: Many pancreatic cancer patients with DM had smoked and had family history of cancer. Their blood glucose controls had worsened, and experienced body weight loss 1 year before they were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. None of patients within a 2-year history or newly diagnosed with DM had family history of DM, so they were supposed to be pancreatic diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with an aggravation of DM and body weight loss, or newly onset diabetic patients without family history of DM are suspect to have pancreatic cancer and should be screened accordingly.