Metformin and energy metabolism in breast cancer: from insulin physiology to tumour-initiating stem cells.
A whole new area of investigation has emerged recently with regards to the anti-diabetic drug metformin and breast cancer. Metformin's anti-breast cancer actions, observed in population studies, in rodents and in cultured tumour cells, are especially encouraging because they attack not only the most common bulk of the tumour cells but also the more rare tumour-initiating stem cells. Here, we illustrate the multifaceted and redundant mechanisms through which metformin-reprogrammed energy metabolism at both the organismal and cellular levels constitutes a novel and valuable strategy to prevent and treat breast cancer disease.
Vazquez-Martin
A
A
Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
Oliveras-Ferraros
C
C
Cufí
S
S
Martin-Castillo
B
B
Menendez
J A
JA
D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D013002:Somatomedins; D008687:Metformin; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases