Recently, an interesting study to metformin was carried out. It turned out that this medication with the known antidiabetic and geroprotective activity has also potential anticancer effect.
Authors: Yong Lei, Yanhua Yi, Yang Liu, Xia Liu, Evan T. Keller, Chao-Nan Qian, Jian Zhang, and Yi Lu
Abstract
Metformin, an inexpensive and well-tolerated oral agent commonly used in the first-line treatment of type 2 diabetes, has become the focus of intense research as a candidate anticancer agent. Here, we discuss the potential of metformin in cancer therapeutics, particularly its functions in multiple signaling pathways, including AMP-activated protein kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, insulin-like growth factor, c-Jun N-terminal kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, and nuclear factor kappaB pathways. In addition, cutting-edge targeting of cancer stem cells by metformin is summarized.
