Diabetes-Cancer Risk: Hyperglycemia on DNA Damage and Repair

Increased risk of certain cancers has been reported in populations with diabetes mellitus. Ample research supports the notion that diabetic conditions generate excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species, thus resulting in oxidative DNA damage. Recently, several discoveries have shown that cells grown in high glucose conditions also have defective DNA damage response and repair pathways. When considered together, the dual concerns of elevated oxidative DNA damage and aberrant DNA damage response and repair underscore the importance of maintaining tight glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus and cancer