Metformin, statins and the risk and prognosis of endometrial cancer in women with type 2 diabetes
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Auditorium 4 of Oulu University Hospital
Topic of the dissertation
Metformin, statins and the risk and prognosis of endometrial cancer in women with type 2 diabetes
Doctoral candidate
Licentiate of Medicine Reetta Arima
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, PEDEGO
Subject of study
Medicine
Opponent
Docent Sakari Hietanen, Turku University Hospital/University of Turku
Custos
Professor Ulla Puistola, Oulu University Hospital/University of Oulu
Use of statins associated with lower risk of endometrial cancer in women with type 2 diabetes
A dissertation research explored whether the use of antidiabetic medication metformin or cholesterol-lowering statins affects the risk or prognosis of endometrial cancer in women with type 2 diabetes.
Endometrial cancer is the fifth most common female cancer worldwide. The prognosis of endometrial cancer is fairly good but gets worse in the widespread or relapsed cases.
Metformin, that is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and statins have prevented the growth of endometrial cancer cells in earlier studies performed in laboratories. Studies including patients using metformin or statins have had varying results.
In the dissertation research, which is based on a nationwide diabetes database, the use of metformin was not associated with the risk or prognosis of endometrial cancer. However, in statin users the risk of endometrial cancer and mortality from non-endometrioid subtype was lower.
In the future it would be interesting to study the effect of statins on the prognosis of endometrial cancer as a part of the medical treatment of patients.
Endometrial cancer is the fifth most common female cancer worldwide. The prognosis of endometrial cancer is fairly good but gets worse in the widespread or relapsed cases.
Metformin, that is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and statins have prevented the growth of endometrial cancer cells in earlier studies performed in laboratories. Studies including patients using metformin or statins have had varying results.
In the dissertation research, which is based on a nationwide diabetes database, the use of metformin was not associated with the risk or prognosis of endometrial cancer. However, in statin users the risk of endometrial cancer and mortality from non-endometrioid subtype was lower.
In the future it would be interesting to study the effect of statins on the prognosis of endometrial cancer as a part of the medical treatment of patients.
Last updated: 1.3.2023