title: Use of noninsulin anti diabetics for prevention and treatment of cancer- narrative review article.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological evidence shows that cancer and diabetes are major causes of death in the world. Type2 diabetes increases the risk of cancer-specific mortality. This review relates diabetic therapies, diabetes and cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  All published papers in this field were searched, looking into such databases as Science Direct, ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed and Scopus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In cancer patients, metformin improves patient outcome and reduces cancer risk. Sulfonylureas may increase risk of cancer, but decreased risk of cancer is associated with thiazolidinediones in type 2 diabetic subjects. Metformin lowers circulating insulin and it may be important for treatment of hyperinsulinemia-associated cancers, such as colon and breast cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  However, laboratory investigations and large-scale population based studies are required for further investigation of association of cancer-preventive, anti-cancer and cancer-mortality of noninsulin antidiabetics.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sadaf
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raana
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aqeel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javeed
keywords: Diabetes; Hyperinsulinemia; Malignant; Metformin hyperinsulinemia; Mortality; Thiazolidinediones