Antidiabetic drugs may reduce risk of primary and secondary brain tumors

Diabetics who take anti-diabetic drugs known as glitazones long-term have a lower risk of primary and secondary brain tumors than those who take other drugs, a new study led by the University of Bristol shows. Research has revealed this.

This research BMJ Opensuggest that if the current study is supported by future studies, these drugs could be repurposed to prevent brain metastases in cancer patients at high risk for second cancers.

PPAR-α agonist (fibrates) and PPAR γ agonist (glitazones) drugs are clinically important because they are widely used safely in the treatment of high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) and diabetes. Previous research suggests that fibrates and glitazones may have a role in preventing brain tumors. Given the safety and cost of these drugs, they could potentially be repurposed to prevent brain tumors and reduce the risk of secondary tumors by blocking tumor growth.

Researchers used primary care records from the British GP database Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), which contains data from a network of over 2,000 general practitioners from over 670 practices across the UK, to show that this theory I considered whether it could be substantiated.

The research team conducted two case-control studies using primary and secondary brain tumors identified within the CPRD between 2000 and 2016. Cases and controls were selected from people treated with antidiabetic or antihyperlipidemic drugs.

The study identified a total of 7,496 people (4,471 primary and 3,025 secondary) with some type of brain tumor. There were 1,950 cases and 7,791 controls for fibrate drug therapy, and 480 cases and 1,920 controls for glitazone analysis.

Researchers found that long-term use of glitazone drugs by diabetic patients was associated with a reduced risk of primary and secondary brain tumors compared with diabetic patients taking other medications. No association was found between the use of fibrates in hyperlipidemic patients and any type of brain tumor.

Katrina Kurian, Professor of Neuropathology and Director of the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of Bristol, Honorary Advisor to North Bristol NHS Trust and one of the study authors, said: ‘The anti-diabetic drug glitazones could potentially play a role in the treatment of diabetes. It is possible that they did.” Pathways to protect against primary brain tumors and brain metastases in diabetics and other patients.

“Our research could also be used to understand better pathways to prevent the development of primary brain tumors such as gliomas.”

Yoav Ben Shlomo, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, Population Health Sciences (PHS), Bristol Medical School and corresponding author, said: “This shows an association between long-term use of glitazones and a reduction in primary brain tumors in patients with diabetes. This is the largest study of its kind,” he added. and brain metastases.

“If our research is validated in larger studies and clinical trials, these drugs could be repurposed to prevent brain metastases in cancer patients at high risk for second cancers, such as breast and lung cancer. .”

To investigate whether these findings can be replicated using independent datasets of larger size and/or with better data on glycemic control and other potential causes and effects. requires further research.

If the glitazone association is biologically causal, this could lead to a better understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms and potential treatments for brain tumor prevention. Given the safety and current use of glitazones in diabetes management, the researchers believe that future double-blind clinical trials will test this hypothesis if stronger evidence emerges from other studies. suggests that it may be possible.