Metformin Induces Apoptosis and Downregulates Pyruvate Kinase M2 in Breast Cancer Cells Only When Grown in Nutrient-Poor Conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Metformin is proposed as adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment because of its ability to limit cancer incidence by negatively modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. In vitro, in addition to inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, metformin can also induce apoptosis. The molecular mechanism underlying this second effect is still poorly characterized and published data are often contrasting. We investigated how nutrient availability can modulate metformin-induced apoptosis in three breast cancer cell lines.

Material and methods

MCF7, SKBR3 and MDA-MB-231 cells were plated in MEM medium supplemented with increasing glucose concentrations or in DMEM medium and treated with 10 mM metformin. Cell viability was monitored by Trypan Blue assay and treatment effects on Akt/mT

SUBMITTER: Silvestri A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4546379 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature