Abstract
Previous evidence has indicated an increased cancer risk in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between DM (high glucose) and tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and how high glucose mediated the metastatic potential of TSCC. The relationship between DM and TSCC was assessed in a retrospective study. The role and its mechanism of high glucose on the proliferation, metastatic potential of TSCC were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The prevalence rate of DM in patients with TSCC was 12.84%, which was significantly higher than that (9.7%) in the general population in China. Although no significant difference was observed in the overall survival (OS) rate, TSCC patients with DM have a 1.38-fold increase in relative risk affecting 5-year OS compared to patients without DM. High glucose enhanced the TSCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and upregulated PKM2 (pyruvate kinase M2) expression. Whereas, these effect was abolished after knockdown of PKM2 in TSCC cells. High glucose promoted tumour growth and lung metastasis of TSCC in a DM animal model. Our results confirm DM as a risk factor for the development of TSCC. High glucose enhances the metastatic potential of TSCC through stimulation of the PKM2 pathway.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases in most countries
No significant difference was observed in the overall survival (OS) rate, tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a 1.38-fold increase in relative risk affecting 5-year OS compared to patients without DM
Cox regression revealed that TSCC patients with DM have a 1.38-fold increase in relative risk affecting the 5-year OS compared to patients without DM (Table 2)
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases in most countries. In 2010, the world prevalence rate of diabetes among adults (aged 20-79 years) was 6.4% [1]. A national study among Chinese adults revealed that the age- and sex-standardized prevalence of total diabetes and prediabetes (i.e., impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance) was 9.7% and 15.5%, respectively [2]. These findings indicate the importance of diabetes as a public health problem. Epidemiological studies have implicated DM as a risk factor for the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) [8], but whether DM affects the progression and prognosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) remains unclear
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
