title: Metformin, an old drug, brings a new era to cancer therapy.
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.
authors: 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.
authors: Huan
authors: H
authors: He
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Ke
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Lin
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Ying
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Liu
authors: Zhijun
authors: Z
authors: Luo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin