Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2011) 26 P732

Serviço de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metabolismo, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.


Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is rare, representing 6.8% of mortality in our country. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is often associated. Main hypothesis include: PC triggers DM; DM is a risk factor for PC; diabetes treatment modifies cancer risk.

Objective: To evaluate DM and PC association.

Methods: Evaluation of patients with PC (2006–2009), divided into: group A (without DM) and group B (with DM). Parameters evaluated: age, gender, BMI, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, hyperuricaemia, smoking, alcoholism and pancreatitis; location, tumor size and invasion at diagnosis; treatment and survival. Group B was subdivided according to DM treatment and duration (subgroup B1 ≤1 year, subgroup B2 >1 year).

Results: A total of 132 patients evaluated with PC: 70 male (53%), 62 female (47%). Group A: 59.8% (n=79); at diagnosis: 67.8±14.6 years old, BMI 25.2±3.9 kg/m2, hypertension 38.0%, dyslipidaemia 17.7%, hyperuricemia 2.5%, alcoholism 80.8%, tumor size 4.1 cm. Group B: 40.2% (n=53); at diagnosis: 66.7±12.2 years old, BMI 26.0±4.7 kg/m2, hypertension 69.8%, dyslipidaemia 50.9%, hyperuricemia 17.0%, alcoholism 53.8%, tumor size 3.4 cm. There was statistical difference for: hypertension (OR=3.78), dyslipidaemia (OR=4.82), hyperuricemia (OR=7.86), alcoholism (OR=3.60) and tumor size. There was no statistical difference (P>0.05) for smoking, pancreatitis, tumor location, invasion and mortality. Diabetes treatment in group B: 58.5% on oral agents, 56.6% on insulin. Subgroup B1: 72.0%; subgroup B2: 28.0%. Diabetes duration didn’t influence tumor invasion, but influenced tumor size (subgroups B1 4.55 cm; B2 2.99 cm, P=0.01). Overall survival was 15.3±1.9 months. There was no survival difference between: groups A and B (18.5 vs 11.7 months), treatment with insulin or oral agents (16.9 vs 13.5 months), subgroups B1 and B2 (15.4 vs 15.8 months).

Conclusions: Diabetes may be a consequence of pancreatic cancer since most patients had diabetes for <1 year. There was no difference in survival between groups, irrespective of hypoglycemic therapy. Relationship between DM and PC is complex and needs further investigation.

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.

My recently viewed abstracts