title: Anti-tumor activity of metformin: from metabolic and epigenetic perspectives.
abstract: Metformin has been used to treat type 2 diabetes for over 50 years. Epidemiological, preclinical and clinical studies suggest that metformin treatment reduces cancer incidence in diabetes patients. Due to its potential as an anti-cancer agent and its low cost, metformin has gained intense research interest. Its traditional anti-cancer mechanisms involve both indirect and direct insulin-dependent pathways. Here, we discussed the anti-tumor mechanism of metformin from the aspects of cell metabolism and epigenetic modifications. The effects of metformin on anti-cancer immunity and apoptosis were also described. Understanding these mechanisms will shed lights on application of metformin in clinical trials and development of anti-cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Xilan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Wuxiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Yansheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008687:Metformin
keywords: epigenetic modifications; metabolism; metformin; therapeutic targets