Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 44 2 2015 02 15 176 84 Sadaf Raana Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. Aqeel Javeed Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 2015 10 14 Background: Epidemiological evidence shows that cancer and diabetes are major causes of death in the world. Type2 diabetes increases the risk of cancer-specific mortality. This review relates diabetic therapies, diabetes and cancer. Method: All published papers in this field were searched, looking into such databases as Science Direct, ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed and Scopus. Results: In cancer patients, metformin improves patient outcome and reduces cancer risk. Sulfonylureas may increase risk of cancer, but decreased risk of cancer is associated with thiazolidinediones in type2 diabetic subjects. Metformin lowers circulating insulin and it may be important for treatment of hyperinsulinemia-associated cancers, such as colon and breast cancer. Conclusion: However, laboratory investigations and large-scale population based studies are required for further investigation of association of cancer-preventive, anti-cancer and cancer-mortality of noninsulin antidiabetics. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/3700 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/3700/3374