Glucose Homeostasis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) and diabetes mellitus are two common diseases that frequently occur together and may share underlying genetic, metabolic, and immune-related mechanisms. Previous studies have shown that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and poorer clinical outcomes, while colorectal cancer itself may also influence glucose metabolism. This prospective observational study aims to investigate the relationships among glucose homeostasis, shared genetic factors, inflammatory responses, immune cell profiles, and colorectal cancer outcomes. Participants with colorectal cancer and non-colorectal cancer controls will undergo serial assessments of glucose-related biomarkers, inflammatory markers, immune cell populations, and genetic analyses over time. The study will focus on identifying shared genetic variants that may contribute to both colorectal cancer and diabetes-related traits, as well as exploring biological pathways involving inflammation, immune regulation, and metabolism. Blood samples and available colorectal tissue specimens will be analyzed to evaluate gene expression, immune cell distribution, and molecular changes associated with disease progression. The results of this study may improve understanding of the biological links between colorectal cancer and diabetes, facilitate the development of personalized risk assessment strategies, and identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for patients with colorectal cancer.

Goals: The long-term use of hormonal birth control has been shown to effect glucose handling, or blood sugar regulation, and potentially lead to insulin resistance which increases a person's risk for metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The goal of this study is to investigate how the body handles glucose, in three groups of young, healthy females: NAT (naturally cycling, or not using hormonal birth control), OCP (taking a birth control pill), and IUD (using an intrauterine device). Objectives: We will investigate if the body's ability to handle glucose differs between these groups. We will also explore if these differences are linked to the levels of primary sex hormones in females, estrogen and progesterone, and if the synthetic versions produced by hormonal birth control have the same negative effect. We will use an oral glucose tolerance test to investigate these potential differences, having participants drink a 75 gram glucose beverage and taking blood samples every 15-30 minutes for a 2-hour timespan. These blood samples will be used to measure glucose and insulin levels in the blood to determine any changes that occur in the body in response to glucose.