Discovering Metabolic Links: Diabetes, Obesity & Cancer
Internationally recognized expert in metabolism, Charles Brenner, Ph.D., Alfred E. Mann Family Foundation Chair in Diabetes and Cancer Metabolism, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope®, joins Sumanta (Monty) Kumar Pal, M.D., FASCO, for an episode of On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research.
City of Hope is a pioneer in diabetes and metabolism research. Early discoveries at City of Hope, such as identifying hemoglobin A1C as a glucose biomarker and developing the technology behind human insulin, have shaped modern diabetes management and treatment.
Dr. Charles Brenner and Dr. Monty Pal discuss how metabolic dysfunction, particularly fatty liver disease (MASLD), links type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. Together, they explore the metabolic links between diabetes, obesity, and cancer, and how understanding those connections could lead to new ways to prevent and treat multiple diseases.
They also discuss the rise of GLP-1 therapies and how a new class of compounds targeting FGF21 might offer a potential new therapeutic option that could help curb sugar cravings and support liver health. This episode takes listeners deep into the science of energy balance, NAD metabolism, fatty liver disease, and what it truly means to be on the edge of a breakthrough.
Listen to the full episode: At the Crossroads of Cancer and Metabolism | On the Edge of Breakthrough. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and at cityofhope.org/edge-of-breakthrough.