Mitochondria-targeted metformin (mitomet) inhibits lung cancer in cellular models and in mice by enhancing the generation of reactive oxygen species.

ABSTRACT: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Although some epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between the use of metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, and the incidence of lung cancer, the real benefits of the drug are unclear as the efficacy is low and the outcomes are quite heterogeneous. To develop a more potent form of metformin, we synthesized mitochondria-targeted metformin (mitomet) and tested its efficacy in in vitro and in vivo models of lung cancer. Mitomet was cytotoxic to transformed bronchial cells and several non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines but relatively safe to normal bronchial cells, and these effects were mediated mainly via induction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Studies using i

SUBMITTER: Shameem M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10961008 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature