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PMID: 25815846 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Metformin, an old drug, brings a new era to cancer therapy.

Cancer journal (Sudbury, Mass.) ·Vol. 21 ·No. 2 ·2015-00-00 ·Pages 70-4

He H, Ke R, Lin H, Ying Y, Liu D, Luo Z

Abstract

Metformin is the most commonly prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus as it is inexpensive, safe, and efficient in ameliorating hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Epidemiological and clinical observation studies have shown that metformin use reduces risk of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and improves prognosis and survival rate of the cancer patients. Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials of metformin in cancer therapy are extending to nondiabetic population. Thus, metformin is emerging as an attractive candidate for cancer prevention and treatment. This review summarizes recent progress in studies of metformin use in cancer and discusses the possibility to enhance its efficacy and to prevent cancer metastasis.

MeSH Terms
Animals Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/pharmacology,therapeutic use Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications Humans Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology,therapeutic use Metformin/pharmacology,therapeutic use Neoplasms/complications,drug therapy,genetics,metabolism
Chemicals
Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic Hypoglycemic Agents Metformin
Authors & Affiliations
6 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
He Huan
From the *Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and †Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; and ‡Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Ke Rong
Lin Hui
Ying Ying
Liu Dan
Luo Zhijun
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Article Info
Journal
Cancer journal (Sudbury, Mass.)
Abbr.
Cancer J
ISSN
1540-336X
DOI
10.1097/PPO.0000000000000103
Published
2015-00-00
Pages
70-4
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
100931981
PMCID
PMC5588661
Subset
IM
Grants
NEI NIH HHS · R21 EY024388 · United States
NEI NIH HHS · R21EY024388 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000103 PMC Full Text View journal details
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