The Possible Role of Diabetes in the Etiology of Laryngeal Cancer.

BACKGROUND

Laryngeal cancer and oral cancer are not always correlated with genetic mutations, HPV infection, smoking, and alcohol abuse. In the absence of these risk factors, there is an increase on these cancers with a parallel increase of diabetes. The aim of this study is to verify if diabetes could be a risk factor for the laryngeal cancer.

METHODS

A questionnaire was given to a group of ninety laryngectomees to verify if these patients have presented diabetes and xerostomia before surgery. In two groups, diabetics and healthy persons, the values of the salivary mucins and the pH were evaluated. The results were statistically analysed using Fisher Exact Test and Chisquare Test Results: Diabetes is a risk factor: p= 0.0445 for laryngectomees male vs control group. Xerostomia inlaryngectomees male is a risk factor: p= 0.050. The values of mucins and pH in diabetic group show significant difference: p=0.05 vs control group Discussion: In all autoimmune diseases, a decrease in the value of pH and salivary flow consequently decreases the value of spinnbarkeit which measures the capacity of the mucous layer to adhere to the epithelium and alter the protective oral mucin layer. We find that diabetes is epidemiologically correlated with laryngeal cancer. In fact, only diabetes increases the concentration of salivary mucins with a formation of mucin layer even more reduced, and so completely ineffective in protecting the mucosa.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase of mucin secretion in diabetes alters much the protective layer allowing the risk factors to promote cancer growth.