Common targets for a deadly duo of diabetes mellitus and colon cancer: Catching two fish with one worm

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology 2021-02, Vol.893, p.173805-173805, Article 173805
• Main Authors: Gajjar, Saumitra, Patel, Bhoomika M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; CDK; Colon cancer; Colonic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Colonic Neoplasms - etiology; Colonic Neoplasms - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Estrogen receptor; HDAC; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; mTOR; PTP1B; Risk Factors; Signal Transduction
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173805

Colon cancer is a major health issue and number of cases are increasing every year. Diabetes mellitus is also a significant health issue that is growing day by day worldwide having negative influences on the survival of individuals. Research has shown a strong relationship between the two malignant diseases. The risk of colon cancer with patients who have type 2 diabetes mellitus has spiked by 30%. The scientific research suggests insulin has a major role in the spread of cancer and the condition unifying between the two diseases is hyperinsulinemia. Several anti-diabetic agents are used for the treatment of type 2 diabetesmellitus. However, their mechanism of action against cancer activity is a question and only a few agents have shown positive signs of action in colon cancer associated with type 2 diabetesmellitus. Hence, the identification of targets, which is common for both colon cancer, associated with type 2 diabetesmellitus has become an urgent requirement. Novel targets such as Liver X receptors, Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), Glucose Transporters (GLUTs), Peroxisome proliferator activator receptors (PPARs), Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors (DPP4i), Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 inhibitors (CDK4i), Estrogen receptors,Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), Insulin-like growth factor receptors (IGF) are some of the targets which are common for both, type 2 diabetesmellitus and colon cancer. This current review gives an overview of the targets (using one worm) which are common for both viz. diabetes mellitus and colon cancer (two fish).