How Is Metformin Being Used in the Treatment of Cancer?

Metformin, a drug originally made for diabetes, has caught the attention of cancer researchers in the last 15 years. Here’s how it’s being used and what we’ve learned so far:

How Metformin Is Used in Cancer Treatment:

1. Supporting Other Treatments: Metformin is being tested to see if it can help other cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation, work better.
2. Preventing Cancer: Researchers are exploring whether Metformin can help prevent certain types of cancer, such as colorectal and breast cancer.
3. Targeting Cancer: Scientists are studying how Metformin might block the growth of cancer cells by targeting different parts of how they function.

What Was Found So Far:

• Fighting Cancer Cells: Some studies suggest that Metformin might help stop cancer cells from growing.
• Lowering Cancer Risk: There’s some evidence that Metformin users might have a lower risk of developing certain cancers.
• Making Treatments More Effective: Metformin might make cancer treatments like chemotherapy more effective.
• Ovarian Cancer: A recent study showed that long-term use of Metformin might help in treating ovarian cancer.
• More Research Needed: Scientists are still conducting studies to see how well Metformin works against different cancers.