If you have type 2 diabetes, you’ve probably come across metformin, as this is one of the most commonly used drugs to treat this condition. Metformin affects the liver and controls the amount of sugar it produces. However, recent studies show that this drug may have another important role – it may help fight cancer.
So, what is the connection between metformin and cancer?
Metformin and Cancer Studies
Several studies have found that this common type 2 diabetes drug can be effective against cancer. For example, a 2014 study from the Medical University of Lodz, Poland showed that metformin can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer. Not only that, but this drug was also linked with a decreased risk of certain types of cancer.
A 2016 review published in Annals of Oncology came to a similar conclusion. This review concluded that metformin could be particularly effective against prostate and colorectal cancer. However, none of these studies managed to effectively explain how this connection works.
How Does Metformin Affect Cancer
A recent study offers a possible explanation for metformin’s effects on pancreatic cancer. The answer seems to lie in the RET (REarranged during Transfection) – a membrane that plays a vital part in cell survival, proliferation, and death. RET signaling is a very common occurrence in pancreatic cancer.
The scientists discovered that metformin can reduce RET signaling which affects cell migration.
The Bottom Line
Although more research is needed to confirm the link between metformin and cancer, the first results look promising. Latest research provides a great base for future studies that could give us new ways to inhibit cancer cell growth.
