Diabetes medication and increased cancer risk

Research her been released in the journal Diabetologia, linking the diabetes drug Lantus made by Sanofi-Aventis, to an increased risk of cancer. Lantus is an artificial form of insulin known as an analog. There has been concern in the past that analogues could increase cancer because of the way they work.

Traditional insulin works by binding to insulin receptors. Analogues work by binding to what is known as an insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor. The concern has been based on the fact that IGF-1 receptors influence cell proliferation. If IGF-1 acted on cancer cells it could caused increased growth of cancer.

The cancer risk was seen in three studies involving a total of 301,136 patients in Germany, Sweden and Britain. The German study found that patients taking Lantus for an average of 18 months had a 9%-31% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer depending on the dose.

The Swedish study found double the risk of breast cancer among Lantus patients. A fourth study of patient in the U.K. did not show clear correlational data.

The European Association for the Study of Diabetes called for more research on Lantus and cancer, but it did not tell patients or doctors to stop using the drug. In fact in a statement that I found particularly cavalier the Association said that there is no evidence Lantus causes cancer; at worst it might promote growth of cancers that are already present but have yet to be diagnosed.