Metformin as an anti-cancer agent against bladder cancer acts via PD-L1 downregulation in an orthotopic mouse model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

PD-L1 is a crucial immune checkpoint protein that limits the effectiveness of antitumor immunity. Blocking the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway has shown promise in cancer treatment, but low response rates to checkpoint inhibitors highlight the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Metformin, a drug primarily used for diabetes, has gained attention as a potential cancer treatment due to its effects on PD-L1 expression, the tumor microenvironment, and its ability to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. Meta-analyses suggest that metformin may reduce the incidence and improve the prognosis of bladder cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes, but the exact mechanisms by which it exerts its effects remain unclear.

Materials

This study employed a syngeneic orthotopic blad

SUBMITTER: Yeh CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12506300 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature