2023-10-31 17:03:03
Patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes should control their insulin levels. If they are too high it can promote pancreatic cancer.
A study, published in ‘Cell Metabolism‘, provides the first detailed explanation of why people with obesity and type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. Research shows that excessive insulin levels overstimulate pancreatic acinar cells, which produce digestive juices. This overstimulation leads to inflammation that turns these cells into precancerous cells.
“Along with the rapid rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes, we are seeing an alarming increase in pancreatic cancer rates,” says co-senior author James Johnson, a professor at the University of British Columbia School of Medicine (Canada). “These findings help us understand how this relationship happens and underscore the importance of keeping insulin levels within a healthy range, which can be achieved with diet, exercise and, in some cases, medications.”
The study focused on the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomathe most prevalent and very aggressive pancreatic cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%.
The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing. By 2030, pancreatic ductal adenoma is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Although obesity and type 2 diabetes had previously been established as risk factors for pancreatic cancer, the exact mechanisms by which this occurred remained unclear.
This new study sheds light on the role of insulin and its receptors in this process.
“We have discovered that hyperinsulinemia directly contributes to the onset of pancreatic cancer through insulin receptors in acinar cells,” explains Anni Zhang, first author of the study. «The mechanism involves increased production of digestive enzymes, leading to increased pancreatic inflammation».
Although insulin is known to regulate blood sugar levels, the study highlights its importance in pancreatic acinar cells.
We hope this work will change clinical practice and help reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Janelle Kopp
University of British Columbia
The findings show that insulin supports the physiological function of these cells by producing digestive enzymes that break down high-fat foods, but at high levels, its increased action can inadvertently promote pancreatic inflammation and the development of precancerous cells.
The results may pave the way for new cancer prevention strategies and even therapeutic approaches targeting insulin receptors in acinar cells.
“We hope that this work will change clinical practice and help advance lifestyle interventions that can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in the general population,” comments co-lead author, Janelle Kopp. “This research could also pave the way for targeted therapies that modulate insulin receptors to prevent or slow progression of pancreatic cancer.
The researchers say these data may have implications for other cancers associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, where elevated insulin levels may also play a contributing role in the onset of the disease.
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