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Metformin and cancer therapy.
Frédéric Bost1, Issam Ben Sahra, Yannick Le Marchand-Brustel
1INSERM U895, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Team Cellular and Molecular Physiopathology of Obesity and Diabetes, Nice, France. bost@unice.fr
Current Opinion in Oncology
|November 30, 2011
Summary
Metformin, an antidiabetic drug, shows promising anti-cancer properties in recent studies. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating its potential role in cancer therapy and its effects on the tumor microenvironment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Metformin is a widely used antidiabetic medication.
- Emerging evidence suggests metformin possesses antitumoral properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on metformin's role in cancer treatment.
- To discuss preclinical and clinical evidence of metformin's anti-cancer effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological, preclinical, cellular, in vitro, and in vivo studies.
- Analysis of early clinical trial data.
- Examination of molecular mechanisms, including AMP-activated kinase-independent pathways.
Main Results:
- Metformin demonstrates antitumoral properties across various study types.
- Metformin may influence the tumor microenvironment by regulating inflammation.
- Combined use with chemotherapeutics shows potential.
Conclusions:
- In vitro and in vivo data support ongoing clinical trials.
- Further clinical investigation is crucial to establish metformin's efficacy in cancer therapy.
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