Diabetes Mellitus and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma—Prevalence, Clinicopathological Variables, and Clinical Outcomes

Abstract

Background: pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths with increasing incidence and link to the onset of diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of DM among patients with the diagnosis of PDAC, analyse the association between the occurrence of DM and clinicopathological factors, and detect variables influencing overall survival. Methods: a retrospective analysis of medical records was performed. The patients were divided into non-DM (n = 101) and DM (n = 74) groups. Statistical analysis with the usage of appropriate tests was conducted. Results: Patients in the groups of DM and NODM had significantly longer median OS than the non-DM group. Nodal involvement, tumour location, level of CEA, CRP and CRP/lymphocytes ratio were significantly associated with OS among patients with any type of DM. Neutropenia was less frequently observed in the DM group. Conclusions: DM is prevalent among patients with pancreatic cancer. In our study, patients with DM receiving palliative chemotherapy had significantly higher median OS than those without DM. The increased comprehension of the mechanisms of the relationship between DM and pancreatic cancer needs further research, which might provide avenues for the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies.