Metformin and longevity (METAL): a window of opportunity study investigating the biological effects of metformin in localised prostate cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Metformin is a biguanide oral hypoglycaemic agent commonly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition to its anti-diabetic effect, metformin has also been associated with a reduced risk of cancer incidence of a number of solid tumours, including prostate cancer (PCa). However, the underlying biological mechanisms for these observations have not been fully characterised in PCa. One hypothesis is that the indirect insulin lowering effect may have an anti-neoplastic action as elevated insulin and insulin like growth factor - 1 (IGF-1) levels play a role in PCa development and progression. In addition, metformin is a potent activator of activated protein kinase (AMPK) which in turn inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and other signal transd

SUBMITTER: Crawley D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5520293 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature