Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies
07:29

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Published on: June 20, 2015

Insulin-lowering effects of metformin in women with early breast cancer

Pamela J Goodwin1, Kathleen I Pritchard, Marguerite Ennis

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. pgoodwin@ntsinai.on.ca

Clinical Breast Cancer
|December 17, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Metformin significantly reduced insulin levels and improved insulin resistance in women with early breast cancer. This suggests a potential benefit for breast cancer outcomes, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology
  • Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

  • Obesity is linked to poorer breast cancer outcomes, potentially mediated by insulin signaling.
  • Metformin, a diabetes drug, lowers insulin levels and may improve breast cancer prognosis.
  • Investigating metformin's effect on insulin in breast cancer patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of metformin on insulin levels in women with early breast cancer.
  • To evaluate metformin's effects on insulin resistance and metabolic parameters.

Main Methods:

  • A 6-month intervention administering 1500 mg/day metformin to 32 women with early breast cancer.
  • Participants had baseline fasting insulin levels of at least 45 pmol/L.
  • Assessed changes in insulin levels, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol, and weight.

Main Results:

  • Metformin significantly lowered fasting insulin levels by 22.4% (P=.024).
  • Insulin sensitivity improved by 25.6% (P=.018), with reductions in total and LDL cholesterol.
  • Weight decreased by 2.5% (P=.01), with no significant impact on quality of life.

Conclusions:

  • Metformin effectively reduces insulin levels and improves insulin resistance in non-diabetic women with breast cancer.
  • The findings support further research into metformin's role in breast cancer treatment.
  • A phase III trial is recommended to confirm effects on breast cancer outcomes.

More Related Videos

Using Mouse Mammary Tumor Cells to Teach Core Biology Concepts: A Simple Lab Module10:39

Using Mouse Mammary Tumor Cells to Teach Core Biology Concepts: A Simple Lab Module

Published on: June 18, 2015

Exploring the Pharmacological Action and Molecular Mechanism of Salidroside in Inhibiting MCF-7 Cell Proliferation and Migration11:13

Exploring the Pharmacological Action and Molecular Mechanism of Salidroside in Inhibiting MCF-7 Cell Proliferation and Migration

Published on: June 9, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones01:26

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones

Biguanides, particularly metformin (Glucophage), are insulin sensitizers that enhance glucose uptake, thereby reducing insulin resistance. Unlike sulfonylureas, metformin doesn't prompt insulin secretion, which helps to curb hypoglycemia risk. Metformin is beneficial in treating conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome due to its insulin-resistance reduction capability. The drug's primary action involves curtailing hepatic gluconeogenesis, a significant contributor to high blood glucose levels...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors01:23

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a significant...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors01:19

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

α-glucosidase inhibitors, including acarbose (Precose), miglitol (Glyset), and voglibose (Voglib) (primarily available in Asia), are drugs that control blood sugar levels by delaying the digestion of starch and disaccharides. They achieve this by inhibiting α-glucosidase enzymes in the intestine, which slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, which in turn leads to a prolonged release of the glucoregulatory hormone GLP-1 from intestinal L-cells.
Acarbose and miglitol are typically...
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects01:16

Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects

Insulin-replacement therapy usually includes both long-acting insulin (basal) and short-acting insulin (to cater to postprandial needs). In a diverse group of type 1 diabetes patients, the average daily insulin dose is typically 0.5-0.7 units/kg body weight. However, obese patients and pubertal adolescents may need more due to insulin resistance.
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides01:06

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides

Repaglinide (Prandin) and Nateglinide (Starlix), known as glinides, are oral insulin secretagogues that stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β cells by closing the ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channel). Repaglinide controls insulin release from pancreatic β cells by managing potassium efflux. It shares two binding sites with sulfonylureas and also has a unique site, indicating overlapping mechanisms of action. With a rapid onset and a 4-7 hour duration, it effectively manages...