High insulin levels and pancreatic cancer

Canadian scientists have discovered a direct link between pancreatic cancer and elevated insulin levels, common among patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Details of the study were published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

The research, led by the University of British Columbia (UBC), in Canada, offers the first detailed explanation of why people with obesity and type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

The team showed that excessive levels of insulin They overstimulate the pancreatic acinar cells that produce digestive juices, and this causes inflammation that turns these cells into precancerous cells.

“Along with the rapid increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes, we are seeing an alarming rise in pancreatic cancer rates,” says James Johnson, one of the study’s authors and acting director of UBC’s Life Sciences Institute.

“These findings help us understand how this happens and highlight the importance of keeping insulin levels within a healthy range, which can be achieved through diet, exercise and, in some cases, medication,” he emphasizes.

Deadly cancer

The study focused on adenocarcinoma pancreatic duct (PDAC), the most common and most aggressive pancreatic cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%.

The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing. In 2030, this type of cancer is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer death.’

The study could pave the way for targeted therapies that modulate insulin receptors to prevent or slow the progression of pancreatic cancer.

Although obesity and type 2 diabetes have already been established as risk factors for pancreatic cancer, the exact mechanisms by which this occurs remain unclear.

This new study sheds light on the role of insulin and its receptors in the process.

“We found that hyperinsulinemia cdirectly contributes to pancreatic cancer through insulin receptors in acinar cells,” explains Anni Zhang, first author of the study and a UBC Ph.D.

“The mechanism involves greater production digestive enzymeswhich leads to increased inflammation of the pancreas, he adds.

Although insulin is widely known for its role in regulating blood sugar levels, the study highlights its importance in pancreatic acinar cells.

Findings show that insulin supports physiological function of these cells in the production of digestive enzymes that break down foods with a high fat content, but at high levels their increased activity can stimulate inflammation of the pancreas and the development of precancerous cells.

Therapies and prevention

Discoveries could open the way to new ones cancer prevention strategies and even therapeutic approaches that target insulin receptors on acinar cells.

“We hope this work will change clinical practice and help advance lifestyle interventions that can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in the general population,” said Janel Kopp, co-author and associate professor at UBC.

It could also pave the way for targeted therapies that modulate insulin receptors to prevent or slow the progression of pancreatic cancer, the researcher points out.

In cooperation with researchers from BC Cancer and BC Pancreatic Center, The team launched a clinical trial to help patients diagnosed with PDAC manage their blood sugar and circulating insulin levels with the help of an endocrinologist.

The researchers believe the findings could have implications for other obesity-related cancers and type 2 diabetes, where elevated insulin levels may contribute to the disease.

“Colleagues in Toronto have shown a similar association between insulin and breast cancer,” notes Johnson. “In the future, we hope to determine whether and how excess insulin may contribute to other cancers caused by obesity and diabetes,” he concludes.