A new study set to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) reveals that a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases the risk of developing certain obesity-related cancers (ORCs), particularly liver, pancreatic, and bowel cancers. However, no significant association was found with other cancers, such as endometrial or postmenopausal breast cancer.
The study, which will be featured at the upcoming ECO conference in Malaga, Spain, highlights critical findings that could influence future cancer prevention strategies. The research is especially timely as the global prevalence of diabetes continues to rise. According to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) 11th edition of the Diabetes Atlas, approximately 589 million people aged 20 to 79 worldwide suffer from diabetes, with over 250 million remaining undiagnosed. With nearly 1 in 8 adults at high risk for developing T2D, these findings underscore the urgent need for improved diagnosis and management of the condition.
Previous research has suggested a potential link between T2D and an increased risk of certain cancers, but factors such as obesity, bias in detection, and shared risk factors had obscured clear causality. To address these issues, researchers conducted a matched cohort study within the UK Biobank, focusing specifically on participants with newly diagnosed T2D. They compared these individuals to a control group matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).
The study’s primary objective was to assess the incidence of several ORCs, including liver, pancreatic, bowel, and other cancers. The analysis incorporated statistical adjustments for factors like alcohol use, smoking, and increased cancer surveillance post-T2D diagnosis. The study involved 23,750 participants with T2D and 71,123 matched controls, followed over a median period of 5 years. Of these, 2,431 new cancers were diagnosed in the T2D group, compared to 5,184 in the control group.
Findings revealed that new-onset T2D was associated with a 48% higher risk of developing obesity-related cancers in men and a 24% higher risk in women, independent of BMI. Notably, the study found that T2D was strongly linked to an elevated risk of bowel cancer, with men seeing a 27% increased risk and women a 34% rise. The risk of pancreatic cancer was even more striking, with a 74% increase in men and nearly double the risk in women. Liver cancer risk was found to be significantly higher, nearly quadrupling in men and increasing by almost five times in women.
However, no significant associations were observed for endometrial or postmenopausal breast cancers. This suggests that the relationship between T2D and cancer is not universally applicable across all obesity-related cancers.
The researchers also pointed out the possibility that the gender differences observed in the study may stem from biological factors such as hormone levels, insulin sensitivity, or body fat distribution. However, they also acknowledged that these findings could be influenced by the distribution of cancer cases between men and women within the UK Biobank.
The study’s authors speculate that hyperinsulinemia, a hallmark of T2D, could play a pivotal role in promoting cancer development. Hyperinsulinemia is known to stimulate cell growth and proliferation, and it may be a critical factor in the increased risk of specific cancers linked to diabetes.
While the study offers valuable insights, the authors emphasize that further research is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms behind the observed associations. They concluded, “Despite controlling for biases and confounders in previous research, our findings indicate that new-onset T2D is linked to some, but not all, obesity-related cancers. Further studies are required to explore the pathways through which T2D may influence cancer risk.”
This study represents an important step in unraveling the complex relationship between type 2 diabetes and cancer, underscoring the need for continued research in this area.
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