Metformin: A promising drug for human cancers (Review)

Wu, Hongnian; Huang, Dan; Zhao, Hong; Sima, Xueqin; Wu, Zhe; Sun, Yan; Wang, Long; Ruan, Ying; Wu, Qian; Wu, Feng; She, Tonghui; Chu, Ying Hao; Huang, Qizhi; Ning, Zhifeng; Zhang, Hao

doi:10.3892/ol.2022.13325

Cited by 26 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 104 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Moreover, having a drug with a unique chemical feature, multiple therapeutic targets, high safety therapeutic margin, and affordable economic cost [64,65] may contribute to reducing mortality and improving recovery due to pandemic diseases; for example, COVID-19 and its fatal complications.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metformin: A Small Molecule with Multi-Targets and Diverse Therapeutic Applications

Badria¹,

Ali²,

Elbermawi³

et al. 2023

Metformin - A Prospective Alternative for the Treatment of Chronic Diseases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Metformin is one of the most prescribed agents in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Its history goes back to the use of goat’s rue (Galega officinalis Linn., Fabaceae). G. officinalis is rich in galegine, a guanidine derivative with a blood glucose-lowering effect. Research based on the effects of guanidine rich on this traditional herbal medicine led to the development of metformin. Metformin continues to serve as a multi-target drug. Its benefits for treating/controlling several diseases were thoroughly discovered over time. These include health disorders such as cancers, obesity, periodontitis, cardiovascular, liver, skin, and renal disorders. Moreover, there is evidence to propose that metformin postpones the aging processes as well as modulates the microbiota to promote better health. So far, it is not fully understood, how metformin can accomplish such pleiotropic pharmacological and therapeutic effects. Metformin may decrease malignancy via suppressing the signal of insulin/IGF-1, avoiding the release of cytokines via NF-κB, and increasing the immune reaction to cancer cells. This chapter discusses the history of metformin discovery, chemistry, its role in diabetic patients, and proposed molecular mechanisms to shed more light on the diverse effects and its ability to target multiple signaling pathways.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metformin: A Small Molecule with Multi-Targets and Diverse Therapeutic Applications

Badria¹,

Ali²,

Elbermawi³

et al. 2023

Metformin - A Prospective Alternative for the Treatment of Chronic Diseases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…By blocking angiotensin II receptor signalling, losartan prevents angiotensin II from increasing the levels of thrombospondin-1, a major activator of TGF-β, and thus suppresses TGF-β signalling and other profibrotic signals. Preclinical trials with models of breast cancer and PDAC showed that losartan reduced the amount of collagen and hyaluronan intratumorally and significantly improved perfusion by decompressing tumour vessels [ 127 , 128 ]. Seven clinical trials are currently recruiting in PDAC, breast cancer, osteosarcoma, and myelogenous leukaemia ( , accessed on 1 February 2023).…”

Section: Therapeutical Targetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Matrix Reloaded—The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Cancer

Raskov

Gaggar

Tajik

et al. 2023

Cancers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As the core component of all organs, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an interlocking macromolecular meshwork of proteins, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans that provides mechanical support to cells and tissues. In cancer, the ECM can be remodelled in response to environmental cues, and it controls a plethora of cellular functions, including metabolism, cell polarity, migration, and proliferation, to sustain and support oncogenesis. The biophysical and biochemical properties of the ECM, such as its structural arrangement and being a reservoir for bioactive molecules, control several intra- and intercellular signalling pathways and induce cytoskeletal changes that alter cell shapes, behaviour, and viability. Desmoplasia is a major component of solid tumours. The abnormal deposition and composition of the tumour matrix lead to biochemical and biomechanical alterations that determine disease development and resistance to treatment. This review summarises the complex roles of ECM in cancer and highlights the possible therapeutic targets and how to potentially remodel the dysregulated ECM in the future. Furthering our understanding of the ECM in cancer is important as the modification of the ECM will probably become an important tool in the characterisation of individual tumours and personalised treatment options.

show abstract

“…Metformin is a 1,1-dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride that is extracted from the legume Galega officinalis [ 13 ]. Metformin is widely used to treat type 2 diabetes [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Retrospective Study on the Role of Metformin in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLMs) have two main histopathological growth patterns (HPGs): desmoplastic (DHGP) and replacement (RHGP). The vascularization in DHGP tumours is angiogenic, while the RHGP tumours exert vessel co-option vasculature. The presence of vessel co-option tumours is associated with poor response to anti-angiogenic agents and chemotherapy, as well as a worse prognosis. Metformin has been shown to influence the progression and vasculature of tumours in different cancers. However, its role in CRCLM is poorly understood. Herein, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the role of metformin in CRCLM. A dataset of 108 patients was screened, of which 20 patients used metformin. The metformin user patients did not use metformin as an anticancer agent. We noticed a significantly lower percentage of CRCLM patients with vessel co-opting RHGP tumours in the population that used metformin compared to CRCLM patients who did not use metformin. Similar results were obtained when we compared the ratio of recurrence and extrahepatic metastases incidence. Moreover, the metformin user patients had significantly higher survival outcome compared to nonusers. Collectively, our data suggest that metformin administration is likely associated with better prognosis of CRCLM.

show abstract

Metformin: A promising drug for human cancers (Review)

Cited by 26 publications

References 104 publications

Metformin: A Small Molecule with Multi-Targets and Diverse Therapeutic Applications

Metformin: A Small Molecule with Multi-Targets and Diverse Therapeutic Applications

The Matrix Reloaded—The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Cancer

A Retrospective Study on the Role of Metformin in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About