Diabetes increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, so diabetics need more careful cancer screening. The research was published in the journal BIO Integration.
The authors of the new study analyzed the link between mutations that increase the risk of diabetes and pancreatic cancer. This approach is called Mendelian randomization and makes it possible to test the existence of a cause-effect relationship between diseases, as it excludes the influence of environmental factors (smoking status, socio-economic status, nutrition, etc.).
The analysis confirmed a cause-effect relationship between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. This is most likely due to disruptions in the IGF (insulin-like growth factor) signaling pathway, which controls energy metabolism and cell growth under normal conditions.
The results mean that people with diabetes are at high risk for pancreatic cancer and should be screened early.
The study was conducted at Xiangnan University (Chenzhou, China).
Previously developed The test for pancreatic cancer is 92% sensitive.