The association of diabetes and anti-diabetic medications with clinical outcomes in multiple myeloma

W. Wu, K. Merriman, A. Nabaah, N. Seval, D. Seval, H. Lin, M. Wang, M. H. Qazilbash, V. Baladandayuthapani, D. Berry, R. Z. Orlowski, M. H. Lee, S. C.J. Yeung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signalling may underlie the promoting effect of type 2 diabetes on cancer. This study examined the association of diabetes, including steroid-induced diabetes (SID), and the impact of anti-diabetic medication on clinical outcomes of multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:A retrospective review was conducted of 1240 MM patients. Overall survival (OS) and MM disease status prior to death were analysed.Results: Diabetic patients had a significantly shorter OS than non-diabetic patients (median: 65.4 vs 98.7 months). In multivariate analysis, SID was a significant predictor of decreased OS, along with age, comorbidity, MM stage, and cytogenetic abnormalities. Analyzing only the diabetic MM patients, Cox regression showed that metformin predicted an increased OS, whereas use of insulin/analogues predicted a decreased OS. Competing risk analysis showed that DM was associated with increased cumulative incidence of death with progressive MM. Among the diabetics, multivariate regression showed that insulin/analogues were associated with increased, but metformin with decreased death with progressive MM. Potential immortal time bias was evaluated by landmark analyses.Conclusions:DM, SID in particular, is associated with poor clinical outcomes in MM. Insulin/analogues are associated with poor outcomes, whereas metformin is associated with improved outcomes. No conclusion about causal relationships can be made at this time. Managing hyperglycaemia with non-insulin regimens should be investigated in randomised trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)628-636
Number of pages9
JournalBritish journal of cancer
Volume111
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 29 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Biostatistics Resource Group
  • Tissue Biospecimen and Pathology Resource
  • Clinical Trials Office

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