<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly rising, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Also, early-onset diabetes is on the rise, and millions of individuals have to be on antidiabetic medications for a prolonged period. Therefore, more people are getting exposed to the adverse effects of antidiabetic medications.
Cancer is among the top ranking causes of death worldwide. Researches are still ongoing to understand the etiologies, precipitants, risk factors, correlates, and predictors of cancers. Diabetes mellitus is associated with various cancers, as extensively documented in the literature. There are conflicting reports about the association between antidiabetic drugs and cancer. This is even of crucial importance, considering that the prevalence of diabetes is rising.
Insulin glargine is reported to be associated with cancers, but clinical trials have not confirmed this. Metformin is largely believed to be beneficial in oncologic practice. Glibenclamide is reported to reduce tumor growth. The association between pioglitazone and bladder cancer is still an area for further research. Meglitinides have also been associated with cancers. Incretin-based therapy and the α-glucosidase inhibitors appear to have beneficial effects on cancers.
There is still a need for randomized multicentric clinical trials to further substantiate and clarify reports from epidemiological studies. Further in vitro studies will also be necessary to characterize the interaction of these pharmacological agents with other molecules in the body.
</abstract>

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly rising, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Also, early-onset diabetes is on the rise, and millions of individuals have to be on antidiabetic medications for a prolonged period. Therefore, more people are getting exposed to the adverse effects of antidiabetic medications.
Cancer is among the top ranking causes of death worldwide. Researches are still ongoing to understand the etiologies, precipitants, risk factors, correlates, and predictors of cancers. Diabetes mellitus is associated with various cancers, as extensively documented in the literature. There are conflicting reports about the association between antidiabetic drugs and cancer. This is even of crucial importance, considering that the prevalence of diabetes is rising.
Insulin glargine is reported to be associated with cancers, but clinical trials have not confirmed this. Metformin is largely believed to be beneficial in oncologic practice. Glibenclamide is reported to reduce tumor growth. The association between pioglitazone and bladder cancer is still an area for further research. Meglitinides have also been associated with cancers. Incretin-based therapy and the α-glucosidase inhibitors appear to have beneficial effects on cancers.
There is still a need for randomized multicentric clinical trials to further substantiate and clarify reports from epidemiological studies. Further in vitro studies will also be necessary to characterize the interaction of these pharmacological agents with other molecules in the body.

Antidiabetic drugs and the risk of cancer: beneficial, neutral, or detrimental?

Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine

Forum of Clinical Oncology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Antidiabetic drugs and the risk of cancer: beneficial, neutral, or detrimental?"}

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly rising, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Also, early-onset diabetes is on the rise, and millions...

Antidiabetic drugs and the risk of cancer: beneficial, neutral, or detrimental?

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Aug 09, 2021

Page range: 74 - 81

Received: Aug 04, 2020

Accepted: Sep 21, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fco-2021-0014

Keywords
antidiabetic drugs, diabetes, cancer

© 2021 Taoreed Adegoke Azeez et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Antidiabetic drugs and the risk of cancer: beneficial, neutral, or detrimental?

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Aug 09, 2021

Page range: 74 - 81

Received: Aug 04, 2020

Accepted: Sep 21, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fco-2021-0014

Keywordsantidiabetic drugs, diabetes, cancer

© 2021 Taoreed Adegoke Azeez et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
antidiabetic drugs, diabetes, cancer