There is increasing evidence that a very old drug for diabetes called metformin may have anti-cancer potential.
What Is Metformin’s Anti-Cancer Potential?
Studies suggest that this inexpensive medication may be helpful against prostate, breast, lung, esophageal and colon cancer. Researchers now report that metformin may also offer benefits against head and neck tumors.
In this pilot study, the researchers took tissue samples from 39 patients with head or neck tumors. The participants then took metformin at about half the dose used by people with diabetes. The scientists sampled the tumors again and compared the metabolic markers.
How Does Metformin Fight Cancer?
Metformin interferes with cancer cells’ ability to create energy for growth by changing the pathways they use. Cancer cells are fast-growing, so they need a lot of energy generated quickly. The medication also encourages cancer cell death by disrupting the cancer-support system. Because metformin is generally well-tolerated and far less toxic than standard cancer drugs, it may become a valuable adjunctive treatment for a variety of tumors.
The medication also encourages cancer cell death (apoptosis) by disrupting the cancer-support system in the surrounding tissue. Because metformin is generally well-tolerated and far less toxic than standard cancer drugs, its anti-cancer potential may become valuable as part of the treatment for a variety of tumors.
The Laryngoscope, Jan., 2017
If you are as interested in the unique anti-cancer activity of metformin you may wish to read these articles:
1/29/18 Redirected to: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/will-diabetes-drug-metformin-protect-the-thyroid/
