Metformin and Breast Cancer: Current Findings and Future Perspectives from Preclinical and Clinical Studies
Over the last several decades, a growing body of research has investigated the potential to repurpose the anti-diabetic drug metformin for breast cancer prevention and/or treatment. Observational studies in the early 2000s demonstrated that patients with diabetes taking metformin had decreased cance...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceuticals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/3/396 |
| _version_ | 1797239634733826048 |
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| author | Karen A. Corleto Jenna L. Strandmo Erin D. Giles |
| author_facet | Karen A. Corleto Jenna L. Strandmo Erin D. Giles |
| author_sort | Karen A. Corleto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Over the last several decades, a growing body of research has investigated the potential to repurpose the anti-diabetic drug metformin for breast cancer prevention and/or treatment. Observational studies in the early 2000s demonstrated that patients with diabetes taking metformin had decreased cancer risk, providing the first evidence supporting the potential role of metformin as an anti-cancer agent. Despite substantial efforts, two decades later, the exact mechanisms and clinical efficacy of metformin for breast cancer remain ambiguous. Here, we have summarized key findings from studies examining the effect of metformin on breast cancer across the translational spectrum including in vitro, in vivo, and human studies. Importantly, we discuss critical factors that may help explain the significant heterogeneity in study outcomes, highlighting how metformin dose, underlying metabolic health, menopausal status, tumor subtype, membrane transporter expression, diet, and other factors may play a role in modulating metformin’s anti-cancer effects. We hope that these insights will help with interpreting data from completed studies, improve the design of future studies, and aid in the identification of patient subsets with breast cancer or at high risk for the disease who are most likely to benefit from metformin treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:54:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-12c52bae3b5744e19d24d0c833e98156 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8247 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:54:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceuticals |
| spelling | doaj.art-12c52bae3b5744e19d24d0c833e981562024-03-27T13:59:29ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472024-03-0117339610.3390/ph17030396Metformin and Breast Cancer: Current Findings and Future Perspectives from Preclinical and Clinical StudiesKaren A. Corleto0Jenna L. Strandmo1Erin D. Giles2Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USASchool of Kinesiology and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USAOver the last several decades, a growing body of research has investigated the potential to repurpose the anti-diabetic drug metformin for breast cancer prevention and/or treatment. Observational studies in the early 2000s demonstrated that patients with diabetes taking metformin had decreased cancer risk, providing the first evidence supporting the potential role of metformin as an anti-cancer agent. Despite substantial efforts, two decades later, the exact mechanisms and clinical efficacy of metformin for breast cancer remain ambiguous. Here, we have summarized key findings from studies examining the effect of metformin on breast cancer across the translational spectrum including in vitro, in vivo, and human studies. Importantly, we discuss critical factors that may help explain the significant heterogeneity in study outcomes, highlighting how metformin dose, underlying metabolic health, menopausal status, tumor subtype, membrane transporter expression, diet, and other factors may play a role in modulating metformin’s anti-cancer effects. We hope that these insights will help with interpreting data from completed studies, improve the design of future studies, and aid in the identification of patient subsets with breast cancer or at high risk for the disease who are most likely to benefit from metformin treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/3/396breast cancermetforminobesitydiabetesinflammation |
| spellingShingle | Karen A. Corleto Jenna L. Strandmo Erin D. Giles Metformin and Breast Cancer: Current Findings and Future Perspectives from Preclinical and Clinical Studies Pharmaceuticals breast cancer metformin obesity diabetes inflammation |
| title | Metformin and Breast Cancer: Current Findings and Future Perspectives from Preclinical and Clinical Studies |
| title_full | Metformin and Breast Cancer: Current Findings and Future Perspectives from Preclinical and Clinical Studies |
| title_fullStr | Metformin and Breast Cancer: Current Findings and Future Perspectives from Preclinical and Clinical Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metformin and Breast Cancer: Current Findings and Future Perspectives from Preclinical and Clinical Studies |
| title_short | Metformin and Breast Cancer: Current Findings and Future Perspectives from Preclinical and Clinical Studies |
| title_sort | metformin and breast cancer current findings and future perspectives from preclinical and clinical studies |
| topic | breast cancer metformin obesity diabetes inflammation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/3/396 |
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