Abstract:
The study of the association between cancer and diabetes mellitus (DM) has been under investigation for decades. Particularly, in the field of neurology and neurosurgery, increasing attention has been paid to comorbid DM in cranial tumor patients, namely those afflicted with the most common and invasive type of malignant adult brain tumor?glioblastoma (GBS). Several mechanisms have been described in the attempt to elucidate the underlying association between DM and GBS, with the metabolic phenomenon known as the Warburg Effect and its consequential downstream effects serving as the resounding culprits in recent literature. Since the effect seen in cancers like GBS exploit an upregulated form of aerobic glycolysis, the role of a sequalae of DM, known as hyperglycemia, will be investigated. Specifically, in the treatment of GBS, there is a notable predisposition to hyperglycemia due to the administration of corticosteroid therapy in conjunction with surgical resection and subsequent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Unsurprisingly, comorbid DM patients are significantly susceptible to this disposition. Further, this fact is reflected in recent pre-clinical and clinical studies on the impact of hyperglycemia on cancer advancement and patient outcomes. Thus, this review aims to highlight the importance of diabetes/glycemic control via standard of care treatments such metformin administration, as well as to describe emerging treatments such as insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway modulation and the employment of the ketogenic diet.
Biography:
Brandon Lucke-Wold was born and raised in Colorado Springs, CO. He graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Neuroscience and distinction in honors from Baylor University. He completed his MD/PhD, Master’s in Clinical and Translational Research, and the Global Health Track at West Virginia University School of Medicine. His research focus is on traumatic brain injury, neurosurgical simulation and stroke. At West Virginia University, he also served as a health coach for the Diabetes Prevention and Management program in Morgantown and Charleston, WV, which significantly improved health outcomes for participants. In addition to his research and public health projects, he is a co-founder of the biotechnology company Wright-Wold Scientific, the pharmaceutical company CTE cure, and was a science advocate on Capitol Hill through the Washington Fellow’s program. He has also served as president of the WVU chapters for the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, Neurosurgery Interest group and Erlenmeyer Initiative Entrepreneur group. In addition, he has served as vice president for the graduate student neuroscience interest group, Nu Rho Psi Honor Society and medical students for global health.
He was an active member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He is currently a member of the UF House Staff Council, Positive Culture Committee, Quality Improvement Committee, Board of Directors Alachua County Medical Society, and Accreditation Requirements Review Committee. He is married to Noelle Lucke-Wold and has two children. As a family, they enjoy running with their dogs, rock climbing and traveling. In his spare time, Brandon frequently runs half marathons and 10ks together with his wife. Brandon also enjoys reading, playing piano, discussing philosophy, and playing chess. He is currently a Pgy5 neurosurgery resident at University of Florida with pursuing endovascular enfolded training and was awarded the Dempsey Cerebrovascular Research Fellowship.
