High Insulin Levels and Pancreatic Cancer

A new study from researchers at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine reveals a direct link between high insulin levels, common among patients with obesity and Type 2 diabetes, and pancreatic cancer.

The study, published in Cell Metabolism, provides the first detailed explanation of why people with obesity and Type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The research demonstrates that excessive insulin levels overstimulate pancreatic acinar cells, which produce digestive juices. This overstimulation leads to inflammation that converts these cells into precancerous cells.

The study focused on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most prevalent pancreatic cancer, and one that is highly aggressive with a five-year survival rate of less than 10 per cent. The incidence of pancreatic cancer is on the rise. By 2030, PDAC is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

While 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.

While insulin is widely recognized for its role in regulating blood sugar levels, the study underscores its importance in pancreatic acinar cells. The findings show that insulin supports the physiological function of these cells in producing digestive enzymes that break down fat-rich foods, but at high levels, its increased action can inadvertently foster pancreatic inflammation and the development of precancerous cells.

The findings may pave the way for new cancer-prevention strategies and even therapeutic approaches that target insulin receptors in acinar cells.

In collaboration with researchers at BC Cancer and the Pancreas Centre BC, the team has initiated a clinical trial to help patients diagnosed with PDAC control their blood sugar and circulating insulin levels with the help of an endocrinologist.

The researchers say the findings may have implications for other cancers associated with obesity and Type 2 diabetes, where elevated insulin levels may also play a contributing role in disease initiation.

Sources:

Anni M.Y. Zhang, Yi Han Xia, Jeffrey S.H. Lin, Ken H. Chu, Wei Chuan K. Wang, Titine J.J. Ruiter, Jenny C.C. Yang, Nan Chen, Justin Chhuor, Shilpa Patil, Haoning Howard Cen, Elizabeth J. Rideout, Vincent R. Richard, David F. Schaeffer, Rene P. Zahedi, Christoph H. Borchers, James D. Johnson, Janel L. Kopp. Hyperinsulinemia acts via acinar insulin receptors to initiate pancreatic cancer by increasing digestive enzyme production and inflammation. Cell Metabolism, 2023; DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.10.003

University of British Columbia. (2023, October 31). High insulin levels directly linked to pancreatic cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 3, 2023 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231031111538.htm
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