Investigating the correlation between tumor markers and metabolic indices in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

This study explores the connection between tumor markers, biochemical and metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), focusing on the linkage between diabetes and tumor development.

T2DM patients (n = 188) were categorized into three age groups (less than 50 years, between 50 and 70 years, and more than 70 years). Serum tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen199 (CA199), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), cytokeratin-19-fragment (CYFRA21-1), carbohydrate antigen 15–3 (CA15-3), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and biochemical and hormone-related metabolic indices including triglyceride (TG), free T4 (FT4), free T3 (FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), islet cell antibody (ICA), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (TESTO), cortisol (CORT), insulin autoantibody (IAA), and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) were measured. Comparative and correlation analyses were conducted across age groups using statistical tests.

Tumor markers (NSE, CA125) increased with age (p < 0.05), while no significant differences were observed in other markers. Among metabolic indices, TG, FT4, TPO, and ICA increased with age, while FT3, TSH, FSH, TESTO, IAA, and GAD65 decreased. Pearson analysis revealed that age strongly correlates with the metabolic index factors TPO, FSH, and TESTO, as well as the tumor markers NSE and CA125.

The findings of this study suggest that age is linked to metabolic disorders and elevated levels of tumor markers. This correlation may be due to the body’s metabolic and endocrine disorders activating mechanisms that promote tumor growth, thereby creating favorable conditions for tumor development.