Relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and breast cancer. An Integrative Review
Abstract
Introduction: Cancer cells have a great need for glucose due to their high multiplication rate. This phenomenon is known as the Warburg effect. This link between breast cancer and diabetes mellitus type 2 is because the inability to regulate blood glucose levels can provide the perfect environment for cancer cell growth.
Objective: To analyze the relationship between diabetes mellitus type 2 and breast cancer.
Methods: An integrative literature review of the literature was carried out using MeSH descriptors and terms such as: women; Diabetes mellitus type 2; breast cancer. A total of 1 436 articles in databases and official documents were reviewed, and relevant sources were selected using Mendeley Desktop 1.19.4. and 92 articles were selected.
Results: There is consensus on the relationship between diabetes and breast cancer. Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for the development of breast cancer. Both diseases share non-modifiable risk factors (age and sex), modifiable risk factors (diet, physical activity, alcoholism, among others), and biological conditions (hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia). It is the duty of professionals who care for patients with diabetes to know about the risk and biological factors, as well as whether they suffer from breast cancer associated with diabetes mellitus.
Conclusions: There is consensus on the relationship between diabetes mellitus type 2 and breast cancer. Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for the development of breast cancer. Both diseases share non-modifiable risk factors (age and sex), modifiable risk factors (diet, physical activity, alcoholism, among others), and biological conditions (hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia).
DeCS:BREAST NEOPLASMS; DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2; RISK FACTORS; WOMEN; REVIEW.
Downloads
References
1. Riddle MC, Cefalu WT, Evans PH, Gerstein HC, Nauck MA, William OK; et al. Consensus report: definition and interpretation of remission in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Apr 6];44(10): 2438-2444.Available from: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/44/10/2438/138556/Consensus-Report-Definition-and-Interpretation-of
2. Sun X, Xiong W, Liu L, Xiong J, Liao CH, Lan Y; et al. Association between diabetes status and breast cancer in US adults: findings from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Front Endocrinol [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Apr 6];14 - 2023. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2023.1059303/full
3. Soto Isla N, Von Oetinger A, Trujillo Gittermann L. Análisis de la investigación clínica científica sobre diabetes mellitus en Chile-13 años. Rev méd Chile [Internet]. 2023 [citado 13 Mar 2025]; 151(12): 1604-1612. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S003498872023001201604&lng=es.
4. Wang L, Zhang HJ, Liu YF, Chen GY. Impact of insulin use on outcomes of diabetic breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Apr 4];25(9):3507-3518. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34002825/
5. Acosta Ruiz LX, Merchán MA, Orjuela Vargas L. Diabetes mellitus tipo 2: Latinoamérica y Colombia, análisis del último quinquenio. Rev Med [Internet]. 2023 [citado 13 Mar 2025]; 31(2): 35-46. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S012152562023000200035&lng=en.
6. Lucchi E, Berger F, Milder M, Commer JM, Morin S, Capodano G, et al. Palliative Care Interventions and End-of-Life Care for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Multicentre Analysis. The oncologist [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 2 Apr 2];29(5): e708–e715. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38387031/
7. Velasco Yanez RJ, Carvalho Fernandes AF, de Freitas Corpes E, Moura Barbosa Castro RC, Sixsmith J, Lopes-Júnior LC. Palliative care in the treatment of women with breast cancer: A scoping review. Palliat Suppor Care [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Apr 4];22(3):592–609. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38058195/
8. Vogt Tatiele N, Koller Francisco J, Dias Santos PN, Lenhani Bruna E, Bittencourt Guimarães PR, Puchalski Kalinke L. Quality of life assessment in chronic wound patients using the Wound-QoL and FLQA-Wk instruments. Investigación y Educación en Enfermería [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Apr 4];38(3): e11. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33306901/
9. Hernández-García F, Lazo Herrera LA. Relación entre la diabetes mellitus y el cáncer. Rev cuban med gen integr [Internet]. 2022 [citado 4 Abr 2024]; 38(1). Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S086421252022000100015&lng=en
10. Overbeek JA, Kuiper JG, van der Heijden A, Labots M, Haug U, Herings RM; et al. Sex- and site-specific differences in colorectal cancer risk among people with type 2 diabetes. Int J Colorectal Disease [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2024 Apr 4];34(2):269-276. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30421309/
11. Miłek T, Forysiński K, Myrcha P, Ciostek P. Diabetes association of polyps and colon cancer. Pol Przegl Chi [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2024 Apr 4];91(4):9-12. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31481646/
12. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Med [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2024 Apr 4];6(7): e1000097. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19621072/
13. Ruiz Betancourt BS, González León M, Nájera N, Ceballos G, Ovalle O, López Reyna JCB; et al. Cáncer de mama, el riesgo atribuible a diabetes tipo 2. IMSS [Internet]. 2020 [citado 4 Abr 2024];59(2): 141-150. Disponible en: https://www.redalyc.org/journal/4577/457767888008/html/
14. Fernández Arce L. Impacto del diagnóstico del cáncer de mama en la evolución de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 [tesis]. Oviedo: Universidad de Oviedo; 2021 [citado 4 Abr 2024]. Disponible en: https://soporte.dialnet.unirioja.es/portal/es/kb/articles/acceso-a-documentos-a-texto-completo
15. Chih Yuan W, Shyang Rong S, Kuo Chin H . Increasing risk of diabetes mellitus in postmenopausal women with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer. Journal of diabetes investigation [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Apr 6];11(2): 490–498. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31271520/
16. Xiong F, Wang J, Nierenberg JL, Van Blarigan EL, Kenfield SA, Chan JM; et al. Diabetes mellitus and risk of breast cancer: a large-scale, prospective, population-based study. British journal of cancer [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2024 Apr 4];129(4): 648–655. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37402868/
17. Xiao Y, Xia J, Li L, Ke Y, Cheng J, Xie Y; et al. Associations between dietary patterns and the risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Breast Cancer res [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2024 Mar 4]; 21(1). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30696460/
18. Eketunde AO. Diabetes as a Risk Factor for Breast Cancer. Cureus [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Apr 6]; 12(5): e8010. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32528752/
19. Jordt N, Kjærgaard KA, Thomsen RW, Borgquist S, Cronin Fenton D. Breast cancer and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Breast cancer research and treatment [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Apr 4]; 202(1): 11–22. Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37656235/
20. Park YM, Bookwalter DB, O'Brien KM, Jackson CL, Weinberg CR, Sandler DP. A prospective study of type 2 diabetes, metformin use, and risk of breast cancer. Annals of oncology: official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Apr 4];32(3): 351–359. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2020.12.008
21. Sun X, Zhang Q, Kadier K, Hu P, Liu X, Liu J; et al. Association between diabetes status and breast cancer in US adults: findings from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) [Internet]. 2023[cited 2024 Apr 4]; 21; 14:1059303. Available from: DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1059303
22. Van Wilpe Bach R, Bach Kmetiuk L, Rocha Szesz AB, Maffisoni Roceto JH, Cavalcante Lipinski L, Marino Fávero G. Diabetes mellitus e o câncer de mama: uma breve revisão. International Journal of Development Research [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Apr 4]; 10. Available from: http://www.journalijdr.com/diabetes-mellitus-e-o-c%C3%A2ncer-de-mama-uma-breve-revis%C3%A3o
23. Villanueva-Pájaro DJ, Vergara-Dagobeth EE, Suárez-Causado A, Gómez-Arias RD. Epidemiología de la interrelación cáncer colorrectal y diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Revisión sistemática. Rev Fac Nac Salud Pública [Internet]. 2020 [citado 13 Mar 2025]; 38(2):e337048. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rfnsp.e337048.
24. Arksey H, O´Malley L. Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. Int J Soc Res Methodol [Internet]. 2005 Jun [citado 4 de abril del 2024]; 8(1): 19-32. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
25. Morantes-Caballero JA, Londoño-Zapata GA, Rubio-Rivera M, Pinilla-Roa AE. Metformina: más allá del control glucémico. Medicas UIS [Internet]. 2017 [citado 4 Abr 2024];30(1): 57-71. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S012103192017000100057&lng=en.
26. Hernández García F, Lazo Herrera LA. Relación entre la diabetes mellitus y el cáncer. Rev cuban med gen integr [Internet]. 2022 [citado 6 Abr 2024]; 38(1). Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S086421252022000100015&lng=es.
27. Acosta Ruiz LX, Merchán MA, Orjuela Vargas L. Diabetes mellitus tipo 2: Latinoamérica y Colombia, análisis del último quinquenio. Rev Med [Internet]. 2023 [citado 4 Abr 2024]; 31(2): 35-46. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S012152562023000200035&lng=en.
28. Sahu S, Bhuyan R, Kar D. Complicaciones agudas de la diabetes mellitus: experiencia de los médicos. Anales de RSCB [Internet]. 2021 [citado 6 Abr 2024]; 25(2):1319-21. Disponible en: https://www.annalsofrscb.ro/index.php/journal/article/view/1083
29. Sánchez Martínez B; Vega Falcon V; Gómez Martínez NV, Vizuete GE. Estudio de casos y controles sobre factores de riesgo de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en adultos mayores. Universidad y Sociedad [Internet]. 2020 [citado 6 Abr 2024]; 12(4):156-164. Disponible en: https://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?scrip=sci_arttextpid=S221836202020000400156Ing=esIng=es
30. Riverón Carralero WJ, Rodríguez Escobar K, Ramírez Carralero M, Góngora Gómez O, Molina Tamayo LE. Intervención educativa sobre cáncer de mama. Rev cuban med gen integr [Internet]. 2021 [citado 6 Abr 2024]; 37(1). Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S086421252021000100011&lng=es.
31. Marzo-Castillejo M, Bartolomé-Moreno C, Bellas-Beceiro B, Melús-Palazón E, Vela-Vallespín C. Recomendaciones de Prevención del Cáncer. Actualización PAPPS 2022. Aten Primaria [Internet]. 2022 [citado 4 Abr 2024];54(Suppl 1). Disponible en: 10.1016/j.aprim.2022.102440
32. Olavarría-Guadarrama M, Aguayo-González P, Batiza-Reséndiz VA, Castro-López JL, O-Pérez LO. de la Elizarrarás-Cendejas JL, et al. Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la resistencia a la insulina en el síndrome de ovario poliquístico: consenso de expertos. Perinatol Reprod Hum [Internet]. 2024 [citado 12 Mar 2025]; 38(3): 81-91. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S018753372024000300003&lng=es.
33. De Armas Hernández Y, Hernández Frómeta M, Peñate Delgado RO, Roque Acanda K, Zaldivar Garit I, Flores Lucía G. Características clínico-tumorales de las pacientes diabéticas con cáncer de mama. Rev Ciencias Médicas [Internet]. 2021 [citado 4 Abr 2024]; 25(5). Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S156131942021000500019&lng=es.
34. Rivera Ledesma ER, Fornaris Hernández A, Mariño Membribes ER, Alfonso Díaz K, Ledesma Santiago RM, Abreu Carter IC. Factores de riesgo del cáncer de mama en un consultorio de la Atención Primaria de Salud. Rev habanera cienc méd [Internet]. 2019 [citado 13 Mar 2025];18(2):308-22. Disponible en: http://www.revhabanera.sld.cu/index.php/rhab/article/view/21898.
35. González Ruiz G, Peralta González O, De la Rosa DJ. Impacto de una intervención educativa en el conocimiento del cáncer de mama en mujeres colombianas. Rev cuba salud pública [Internet]. 2019 [citado 4 Abr 2024];45(3). Disponible en: http://www.revsaludpublica.sld.cu/index.php/spu/article/view/115711.
36. Aguilera-Eguía RA, Rodríguez-Pindave VA, Fuentes-Barría H, Roco-Videla Á, Gómez-Cerro P. Lactancia materna y su rol preventivo en el cáncer de mama. Nutr Hosp [Internet]. 2022 [citado 4 Abr 2024]; 39(4): 955-957. Disponible en:
http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S021216112022000600032&lng=es.
37. González-Wong C, Fuentes-Barría H, Aguilera-Eguía R. Insulinoterapia en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Una revisión narrativa. Enferm univ [Internet]. 2021 [citado 12 Mar 2025]; 18(3): 368-381. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S166570632021000300368&lng=es.
38. Macías-Castro I, Hernández-Cañero A, Tejeiro-Fernández A. El hábito de fumar y la salud. Rev cuban med [Internet]. 2020 [citado 4 Abr 2024]; 24 (6). Disponible en: https://revmedicina.sld.cu/index.php/med/article/view/2188
39. Aldecoa F, Ávila J. La vía canónica PI3K/AKT/mTOR y sus alteraciones en cáncer. Horiz Med. [Internet]. 2021 [citado 12 Mar 2025]; 21(4): e1547. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1727558X2021000400014&lng=es.
40. Rodríguez-González N, Ramos-Monserrat MJ, de Arriba-Fernández A. ¿Cómo influyen los determinantes sociales de la salud en el cáncer de mama? Rev de Senología y Patología Mamaria [Internet]. 2023 [citado 4 Abr 2024]; 36(3). Disponible en: 10.1016/j.senol.2022.100467
41. Arceo-Martínez MT, López-Meza JE, Ochoa-Zarzosa A, Palomera-Sanchez Z. Estado actual del cáncer de mama en México: principales tipos y factores de riesgo. Gac mex oncol [Internet]. 2021 [citado 4 Abr 2024]; 20(3): 101-110. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2565005X2021000300101&lng=es.
42. Zhou J, Lu W, Wang Y, Yu J, Ni J, Han W, et al. Impact of time in tight range on all‑cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab [Internet]. 2025 Apr [citado 2025 Jun 23];27(4):e16212. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39868655/

Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright: Camagüey Medical Archive Magazine, offers immediately after being indexed in the SciELO Project; Open access to the full text of the articles under the principle of making available and free the research to promote the exchange of global knowledge and contribute to a greater extension, publication, evaluation and extensive use of the articles that can be used without purpose As long as reference is made to the primary source.
Conflicts of interest: authors must declare in a mandatory manner the presence or not of conflicts of interest in relation to the investigation presented.
(Download Statement of potential conflicts of interest)
The Revista Archivo Médico de Camagüey is under a License Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
This license allows others to distribute, to mix, to adjust and to build from its work, even for commercial purposes, as long as it is recognized the authorship of the original creation. This is the most helpful license offered. Recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials. The full license can be found at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/