Metformin in cancer therapy: a new perspective for an old antidiabetic drug?
Metformin is the most widely used antidiabetic drug in the world, and there is increasing evidence of a potential efficacy of this agent as an anticancer drug. First, epidemiological studies show a decrease in cancer incidence in metformin-treated patients. Second, metformin decreases insulin resistance and indirectly reduces insulin level, a beneficial effect because insulin promotes cancer cell growth. Third, several reports outline a direct inhibitory effect of metformin on cancer cell growth and an antitumoral action. Finally, metformin activates the AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, a major sensor of the energetic status of the cell, which has been proposed as a promising therapeutic target in cancer.
Ben Sahra
Issam
I
INSERM U895, Team 7: Cellular and Molecular Physiopathology of Obesity and Diabetes, Nice, France.
Le Marchand-Brustel
Yannick
Y
Tanti
Jean-François
JF
Bost
Frédéric
F
D000263:Adenylate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008687:Metformin; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000263:Adenylate Kinase