Research Progress on the Use of Metformin in Leukemia Treatment

Abstract

Opinion statementMetformin is a first-line drug in the clinical treatment of type 2 diabetes. Its main molecular mechanism involves the activation of adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which regulates cell energy metabolism. Many clinical studies have shown that metformin can reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer in patients with or without diabetes. In vitro studies also confirmed that metformin can inhibit proliferation, promote apoptosis, and enhance the response of cells to chemical drugs and other anticancer effects on a variety of leukemia cells. In recent years, leukemia has become one of the most common malignant diseases. Although great progress has been made in therapeutic approaches for leukemia, novel drugs and better treatments are still needed to improve the therapeutic efficacy of these treatments. This article reviews the application status and possible mechanism of metformin in the treatment of leukemia to further understand the anticancer mechanism of metformin and expand its clinical application.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of the Anti-Diabetic Drug Metformin in the Prevention of Inflammatory Complications and Infectious Diseases Including COVID-19: A Narrative Review

“…While this review primarily focuses on the drug's implications in inflammatory and infectious diseases, it is crucial to acknowledge the wealth of information available on its role in cancer treatment. Interested readers are encouraged to please consult recent publi-cations on metformin's role in cancer, where evidence from epidemiological, pre-clinical, and clinical studies suggests promising implications for cancer prevention in diabetic patients [136][137][138][139]. Limited research has also explored its potential in preventing cancer in non-diabetic animal models, highlighting the need for additional studies to understand its chemopreventive effects in non-diabetics.…”