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Updated: May 1, 2026
Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies
Published on: June 20, 2015
Metformin suppresses sonic hedgehog expression in pancreatic cancer cells
Masafumi Nakamura1, Ayako Ogo, Masahiro Yamura
1Department of Digestive Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan. mnakamura@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp.
Background/Aim:
Metformin use has previously been associated with decreased cancer risk. The Hedgehog signaling pathway is a well-characterized early and late mediator of pancreatic cancer oncogenesis. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of metformin on factors involved in Hedgehog signaling.
Materials And Methods:
BxPC3 human pancreatic cancer cells were treated with metformin, and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) mRNA and protein levels were examined by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting, respectively. The effect of metformin on Shh levels was also examined in three other cancer cell lines.
Results:
Shh protein and mRNA expression was suppressed by metformin in BxPC3 cells. This phenomenon was further confirmed in three other cancer cell lines. Shh mRNA expression was inhibited by metformin in a concentration-dependent manner in two cancer cell lines.
Conclusion:
Metformin reduces the expression of Shh in several cancer cell lines including pancreatic cancer cell.
Insights
Metformin was found to suppress Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression in pancreatic cancer cells and other cancer cell lines. This indicates a potential role for metformin in modulating the Hedgehog signaling pathway in cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Metformin is associated with reduced cancer risk.
- The Hedgehog signaling pathway is crucial in pancreatic cancer development.
- Understanding metformin's effect on this pathway is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of metformin on Hedgehog signaling factors.
- To determine if metformin affects Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression.
Main Methods:
- BxPC3 human pancreatic cancer cells were treated with metformin.
- Sonic hedgehog (Shh) mRNA and protein levels were quantified.
- Experiments were conducted across multiple cancer cell lines.
Main Results:
- Metformin significantly suppressed Shh mRNA and protein expression in BxPC3 cells.
- This inhibitory effect of metformin on Shh was confirmed in three additional cancer cell lines.
- Shh mRNA inhibition by metformin demonstrated a concentration-dependent relationship in two cell lines.
Conclusions:
- Metformin effectively reduces Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression.
- This effect was observed in pancreatic cancer cells and other cancer cell lines.
- Metformin may influence cancer progression by modulating the Hedgehog pathway.
