Patients with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow, who also have diabetes have a reduced overall survival when compared to those without diabetes, a new study led by an Indian-American scientist has revealed.
While investigators have long been aware of the increased risk of multiple myeloma in patients with diabetes, this is the first study to examine racial disparities in survival rates among those living with these comorbid conditions.
“We knew from prior studies that patients with multiple myeloma and diabetes have lower survival rates,” said Urvi Shah, a multiple myeloma specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study, collecting data from electronic health care records of 5,383 patients with multiple myeloma.
Fifteen per cent of patients included had a diabetes diagnosis (12 per cent of white and 25 per cent of Black patients).
Notably, in this cohort, diabetes was 50 per cent more prevalent among Black patients 45-60 years old than white patients over 60 years old.
When investigating the mechanisms behind these findings, Dr Shah and colleagues observed that in genetically engineered mouse models, multiple myeloma tumours grew more rapidly in non-obese diabetic mice than in non-diabetic controls.
Dr Shah is also investigating how modifiable risk factors like the microbiome and one’s diet can be altered to improve cancer outcomes.