A New Target to Improve the Health and Lives of Childhood Cancer Survivors: Diabetes Prevention

January 11th, 2024byDr. Monica M. Bertagnolli

Before joining NIH, I conducted research on how inflammation drives colon cancer. I eventually led a trial to see if certain anti-inflammatory drugs could prevent the colon polyps that can can turn into cancer. The drugs worked; however, they also increased the risk of strokes and heart attacks, so they were not safe for people at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

The trial gave us valuable insight about the risks of these drugs and serves as an example of how clinicians and researchers must consider the needs of the whole patient rather than focusing on one organ system or disease. We have to recognize how certain interventions might improve one health issue but exacerbate another. This is especially important in adult survivors of childhood cancer. We know this populationabout 500,000 people living in the U.S. according to 2020 estimates from the National Cancer Institutefaces an increased risk of developing chronic health conditions, includingdiabetes.