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©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Diabetes. Jul 15, 2021; 12(7): 1010-1025
Published online Jul 15, 2021. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i7.1010
Current cancer therapies and their influence on glucose control
Carly Yim, Kerry Mansell, Nassrein Hussein, Terra Arnason
Carly Yim, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N 0W8, Saskatchewan, Canada
Kerry Mansell, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N 5E5, Saskatchewan, Canada
Nassrein Hussein, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N 0W8, Saskatchewan, Canada
Terra Arnason, Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N 0W8, Saskatchewan, Canada
Author contributions: Yim C, Mansell K, Hussein N and Arnason T contributed to the research and writing of distinct sections of the paper; Arnason T and Mansell K edited the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Authors declare no conflict of interests for this article.
Corresponding author: Terra Arnason, FRCPC, MD, Academic Research, Doctor, Professor, Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Saskatchewan, Room 3654 Royal University Hospital 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon S7N 0W8, Saskatchewan, Canada. terra.arnason@usask.ca
Received: February 7, 2021
Peer-review started: February 7, 2021
First decision: March 16, 2021
Revised: April 11, 2021
Accepted: June 25, 2021
Article in press: June 25, 2021
Published online: July 15, 2021
Processing time: 154 Days and 10.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) rarely cause hyperglycemia, but glucose monitoring from their initiation is critical as rapid diabetic ketoacidosis can develop from underlying immune-mediated pancreatic beta-cell destruction. Therapy with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-analogs and glucocorticoids have higher rates of hyperglycemia early in therapy that is not generally severe, but needs to be recognized and treated to optimize patient outcomes. The hyperglycemia occurring from the 5-FU and ICI classes is not reversible. The diabetes from ICIs arises from an absolute insulin deficiency vs the partial deficiency from the 5-FU class. Glucocorticoids and mTOR inhibitors predominantly cause insulin resistance.