General introduction

The CARING (CAncer Risk and INsulin analoGues) project will obtain precise data on the incidence of cancer in diabetic patients and determine any link with use of various insulin and insulin analogues.

The study will utilise high quality prescription databases and other national data sources, integrated at European level with advanced methods of harmonising data. The study will take into account potential confounders. The project aims to determine the influence of drug dose on risk, and through a risk model, identify predictors of cancer for insulin users.

A review of published evidence combined with a study of tumour characteristics and gene expression in breast cancer tumour collections will aid understanding of potential mechanisms of cancer initiation and/or promotion by insulin.