Progress on Correlation Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Malignant Tumors

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and malignant tumors are two kinds of chronic diseases with tremendous impact on human health. Numerous epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that type 2 diabetes mellitus increases the risk of liver, pancreatic, endometrial, gallbladder, colorectal and breast cancers. Hyperglycemia can promote cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and immune escape through a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia can activate multiple signal transduction pathways through insulin/IGF-I signaling axis and promote tumorigenesis. Sustained chronic inflammatory responses can promote the development of cancer through DNA damage and pro-inflammatory factors. Gut microbiome dysbiosis is closely related to the occurrence of several gastrointestinal tumors. This paper reviews the progress on the correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus and the progression of malignant tumors and the possible mechanisms.