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Sekino N, Kano M, Murakami K, Toyozumi T, Hayano K, Ohira G, Matsubara H. Current findings on the antitumor effects of metformin on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Review). Mol Clin Oncol 2024; 21:58. [PMID: 39006474 PMCID: PMC11240871 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2024.2756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an intractable type of cancer that requires novel therapeutic modalities, since the therapeutic outcomes are often inadequate, even in response to multidisciplinary treatment. The antitumor effect of metformin, an antidiabetic drug, has been reported in esophageal cancer; however, its effects are diverse. Since various multidisciplinary therapies are used in ESCC, the antitumor effect of metformin is expected to be synergistic in some treatment strategies. The present review summarizes the antitumor effects of metformin and discusses its use in combination with existing therapies. The present study reviewed relevant studies where the molecular targets of metformin (AMPK and inflammatory system signals) were described, followed by the classification and organization of its antitumor effects, and subsequently summarized the current research on its antitumor effects, especially in ESCC. A number of studies have reported that metformin prevents the development of ESCC and exerts its antitumor effects through various pathways. In addition, metformin has been shown to inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis, inhibit cancer cell invasion, migration and angiogenesis into the tumor, and decrease tumor malignancy, such as metastasis. Furthermore, it may modulate host tumor immunity in a tumor-suppressive manner and is expected to improve prognosis following treatment for ESCC. Notably, metformin may be beneficial in combination with chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, and radiation. By contrast, it has been shown to potentially induce resistance to 5-fluorouracil. Finally, the effects of metformin in combination with other therapies are discussed in the present study, and perspectives on the potential benefits of metformin for future ESCC treatment are presented. In conclusion, the present review may be useful in improving the understanding of the wide range of antitumor effects of metformin. Although some concerning points remain, using metformin in ESCC treatment could be promising. Notably, more knowledge needs to be accumulated regarding the effects of metformin on ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobufumi Sekino
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Masayuki Kano
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Kentaro Murakami
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Takeshi Toyozumi
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Koichi Hayano
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Gaku Ohira
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Hisahiro Matsubara
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
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2
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Hou Y, Yang Z, Xiang B, Liu J, Geng L, Xu D, Zhan M, Xu Y, Zhang B. Metformin is a potential therapeutic for COVID-19/LUAD by regulating glucose metabolism. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12406. [PMID: 38811809 PMCID: PMC11137110 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63081-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common and aggressive subtype of lung cancer, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a serious public health threat worldwide. Patients with LUAD and COVID-19 have a poor prognosis. Therefore, finding medications that can be used to treat COVID-19/LUAD patients is essential. Bioinformatics analysis was used to identify 20 possible metformin target genes for the treatment of COVID-19/LUAD. PTEN and mTOR may serve as hub target genes of metformin. Metformin may be able to cure COVID-19/LUAD comorbidity through energy metabolism, oxidoreductase NADH activity, FoxO signalling pathway, AMPK signalling system, and mTOR signalling pathway, among other pathways, according to the results of bioinformatic research. Metformin has ability to inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells, according to the results of colony formation and proliferation assays. In A549 cells, metformin increased glucose uptake and lactate generation, while decreasing ATP synthesis and the NAD+/NADH ratio. In summary, PTEN and mTOR may be potential targets of metformin for the treatment of COVID-19/LUAD. The mechanism by which metformin inhibits lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation may be related to glucose metabolism regulated by PI3K/AKT signalling and mTOR signalling pathways. Our study provides a new theoretical basis for the treatment of COVID-19/LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongwang Hou
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China.
| | - Zhicong Yang
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China
| | - Baoli Xiang
- Respiratory Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China
| | - Jiangmin Liu
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China
| | - Lina Geng
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China
| | - Dandan Xu
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China
| | - Minghua Zhan
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China
| | - Yuhuan Xu
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China.
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Moldasheva A, Surov V, Aljofan M. Editorial: New lights Through Old Windows: Metformin and Derivatives as Anti-Cancer Treatments. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:889642. [PMID: 35559266 PMCID: PMC9086272 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.889642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aiman Moldasheva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Vladimir Surov
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Mohamad Aljofan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
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Kuo WL, Tseng LL, Chang CC, Chen CJ, Cheng ML, Cheng HH, Wu MJ, Chen YL, Chang RT, Tang HY, Hsu YC, Lin WJ, Kao CY, Hsieh WP, Kung HJ, Wang WC. Prognostic Significance of O-GlcNAc and PKM2 in Hormone Receptor-Positive and HER2-Nonenriched Breast Cancer. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11081460. [PMID: 34441396 PMCID: PMC8392504 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11081460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Predictive metabolic biomarkers for the recurrent luminal breast cancer (BC) with hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-negative are lacking. High levels of O-GlcNAcylation (O-GlcNAc) and pyruvate kinase isoenzyme M2 (PKM2) are associated with malignancy in BC; however, the association with the recurrence risk remains unclear. We first conduct survival analysis by using the METABRIC dataset to assess the correlation of PKM2 expression with BC clinical outcomes. Next, patients with HR+/HER2- luminal BC were recruited for PKM2/O-GlcNAc testing. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to evaluate the 10-year DFS predicted outcome. Survival analysis of the METABRIC dataset revealed that high expression of PKM2 was significantly associated with worse overall survival in luminal BC. The high expression of O-GlcNAc or PKM2 was a significant independent marker for poor 10-year DFS using immunohistochemical analysis. The PKM2 or O-GlcNAc status was a significant predictor of DFS, with the combination of PKM2–O-GlcNAc status and T stage greatly enhancing the predictive outcome potential. In summary, O-GlcNAc, PKM2, and T stage serve as good prognostic discriminators in HR+/HER2− luminal BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ling Kuo
- Division of Breast Surgery, General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan City 33305, Taiwan;
| | - Lin-Lu Tseng
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Department of Life Sciences, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu City 30013, Taiwan; (L.-L.T.); (H.-H.C.); (M.-J.W.); (Y.-L.C.)
| | - Che-Chang Chang
- The Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 11031, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (R.-T.C.)
| | - Chih-Jung Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung City 40705, Taiwan; (C.-J.C.); (Y.-C.H.)
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 40201, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Ling Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan;
- Metabolomics Core Laboratory, Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan;
| | - Hsin-Hung Cheng
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Department of Life Sciences, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu City 30013, Taiwan; (L.-L.T.); (H.-H.C.); (M.-J.W.); (Y.-L.C.)
| | - Meng-Jen Wu
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Department of Life Sciences, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu City 30013, Taiwan; (L.-L.T.); (H.-H.C.); (M.-J.W.); (Y.-L.C.)
| | - Yu-Lun Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Department of Life Sciences, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu City 30013, Taiwan; (L.-L.T.); (H.-H.C.); (M.-J.W.); (Y.-L.C.)
| | - Ruei-Ting Chang
- The Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 11031, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (R.-T.C.)
| | - Hsiang-Yu Tang
- Metabolomics Core Laboratory, Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan;
| | - Yong-Chen Hsu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung City 40705, Taiwan; (C.-J.C.); (Y.-C.H.)
| | - Wen-Jye Lin
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (W.-J.L.); (C.-Y.K.)
| | - Cheng-Yuan Kao
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (W.-J.L.); (C.-Y.K.)
| | - Wen-Ping Hsieh
- Institute of Statistics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu City 30013, Taiwan;
| | - Hsing-Jien Kung
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 11031, Taiwan;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis Cancer Centre, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Wen-Ching Wang
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Department of Life Sciences, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu City 30013, Taiwan; (L.-L.T.); (H.-H.C.); (M.-J.W.); (Y.-L.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-35742766
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5
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Anticancer potential of metformin: focusing on gastrointestinal cancers. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 87:587-598. [PMID: 33744985 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04256-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancers are one of the most common types of cancer that have high annual mortality; therefore, identification and introduction of safe drugs in the control and prevention of these cancers are of particular importance. Metformin, a lipophilic biguanide, is the most commonly prescribed agent for type 2 diabetes management. In addition to its great effects on lowering the blood glucose concentrations, the anti-cancer properties of this drug have been reported in many types of cancers such as gastrointestinal cancers. Hence the effects of this agent as a safe drug on the reduction of gastrointestinal cancer risk and suppression of these types of cancers have been studied in different clinical trials. Furthermore, the proposed mechanisms of metformin in preventing the growth of these cancers have been investigated in several studies. In this review, we discuss recent advances in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that are relevant for metformin use in gastrointestinal cancer treatment.
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Wang G, Dong Y, Liu H. Curcumol enhances the anti-tumor effects of metformin via suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple-negative breast cancer. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:946. [PMID: 32953746 PMCID: PMC7475397 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-5438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a severe disease with a high mortality rate. Metformin has been found to possess anti-tumor properties. Curcumol, an active ingredient extracted from curcuma, exerts the protective effect in TNBC cells through inducing apoptosis. However, the effects of curcumol combined with metformin on the treatment of TNBC have yet to be fully established. Methods TNBC cells MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells were used in the study. TNBC cells were treated with curcumol and metformin alone or treated with curcumol combined with metformin. Cell viability was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell apoptosis was detected using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The levels of proteins were measured using Western blot. Wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assays were used to determine cell migration and invasion ability, respectively. A xenograft model was established to investigate the tumor growth ability. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of Ki-67 and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Results In the study, the administration of curcumol alone had no significant effects on the TNBC cells. However, the anti-proliferation, anti-metastasis, and anti-epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) effects of metformin were enhanced by the addition of curcumol. Further, curcumol reversed TNBC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT induced by rucaparib, and enhanced the effect of metformin on rucaparib-induced TNBC cells. The combination of curcumol and metformin also suppressed tumor growth, EMT marker expression, and the activation of Wnt2/β-Catenin signaling during in vivo experiments. Conclusions The combination of curcumol and metformin enhances the anti-tumor effects of metformin on TNBC via inhibiting EMT. Curcumol combined with metformin may hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gangyue Wang
- Department of Breast, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Dong
- Department of Breast, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Heng Liu
- Department of Breast, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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7
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Min W, Wang B, Guo A, Mao G, Zhao Y, Zhang S, He R, Min Y, Huang Y. The Effect of Metformin on the Clinicopathological Features of Breast Cancer With Type 2 Diabetes. World J Oncol 2020; 11:23-32. [PMID: 32095186 PMCID: PMC7011907 DOI: 10.14740/wjon1242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The present study aimed to review the use of hypoglycemic drugs and clinicopathological data in breast cancer patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to investigate the effect of metformin on the clinicopathological features of breast cancer in patient with T2DM. Methods Eighty-nine patients with breast cancer hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from January 2012 to December 2014 were included. Thirty-three patients were on metformin (metformin group) and 56 patients were on control group. Streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) method was used to quantify protein expression of molecular markers (estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2)), molecular markers of proliferation (Ki-67 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) molecular markers (matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), E-cadherin and downstream N-cadherin). Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to detect HER-2 (+ and ++). Results The rate of lymph node metastasis and the level of Ki-67/MMP-2 in the metformin group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of luminal pattern in metformin group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). However, there were no differences in the parameters of age, duration of diabetes, body mass index, tumor size, histological grade of cancer and clinical pathological features between the two groups. No significant difference was observed in the expressions of ER, PR, HER-2, EGFR, E-cadherin, N-cadherin and the recurrence rate between two groups. Conclusions Metformin is associated with luminal breast cancer and can inhibit breast cancer invasion and metastasis in some cases. It may be associated with EMT and is beneficial to the prognosis of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Min
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Baofeng Wang
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Aining Guo
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Guochao Mao
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Shuqun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Rui He
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yihe Min
- Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing 404100, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Ultrasonography Department, Xi'an Chest Hospital, Xi'an 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
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Abstract
Background The anticancer activity of metformin has been confirmed against several cancer types in vitro and in vivo. However, the underlying mechanisms of metformin in the treatment of cancer are not fully understood. This systematic review aims to discuss the possible anticancer mechanism of action of metformin. Method A search through different databases was conducted, including Medline and EMBASE. Results A total of 96 articles were identified of which 56 were removed for duplication and 24 were excluded after reviewing the title and abstract. A total of 12 research articles were included that describe different antiproliferative mechanisms that may contribute to the antineoplastic effects of metformin. Conclusion This analysis discussed the potential anticancer activity of metformin and highlighted the importance of AMPK as a potential target for anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Aljofan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Dieter Riethmacher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
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Ko G, Kim T, Ko E, Park D, Lee Y. Synergistic Enhancement of Paclitaxel-induced Inhibition of Cell Growth by Metformin in Melanoma Cells. Dev Reprod 2019; 23:119-128. [PMID: 31321352 PMCID: PMC6635613 DOI: 10.12717/dr.2019.23.2.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant malignancies.
Antidiabetic drug metformin has been reported to inhibit cell proliferation and
metastasis in many cancers, including melanoma. Metformin suppresses the
mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and our previous study showed that it also
inhibits the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Paclitaxel
is currently prescribed for treatment of melanoma. However, paclitaxel induced
the activation of ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, a cell
signaling pathway implicated in cell survival and proliferation. Therefore, we
reasoned that combined treatment of paclitaxel with metformin could be more
effective in the suppression of cell proliferation than treatment of paclitaxel
alone. Here, we investigated the combinatory effect of paclitaxel and metformin
on the cell survival in SK-MEL-28 melanoma cell line. Our study shows that the
combination of paclitaxel and metformin has synergistic effect on cell survival
and suppresses the expression of proteins involved in cancer metastasis. These
findings suggest that the combination of paclitaxel and metformin can be a
possible therapeutic option for treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gihyun Ko
- Dept. of Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju 63243, Korea
| | - Taehyung Kim
- Dept. of Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju 63243, Korea
| | - Eunjeong Ko
- Dept. of Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju 63243, Korea
| | - Deokbae Park
- Histology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju 63243, Korea
| | - Youngki Lee
- Histology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju 63243, Korea
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10
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Yi Y, Zhang W, Yi J, Xiao ZX. Role of p53 Family Proteins in Metformin Anti-Cancer Activities. J Cancer 2019; 10:2434-2442. [PMID: 31258748 PMCID: PMC6584340 DOI: 10.7150/jca.30659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin has been used as therapy for type 2 diabetes for many years. Clinical and basic evidence as indicated that metformin has anti-cancer activities. It has been well-established that metformin activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which in turn regulates energy homeostasis. However, the mechanistic aspects of metformin anti-cancer activity remain elusive. p53 family proteins, including p53, p63 and p73, have diverse biological functions, including regulation of cell growth, survival, development, senescence and aging. In this review, we highlight the evidence and mechanisms by which metformin inhibits cancer cell survival and tumor growth. We also aimed to discuss the role of p53 family proteins in metformin-mediated suppression of cancer growth and survival.
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Lu CC, Chiang JH, Tsai FJ, Hsu YM, Juan YN, Yang JS, Chiu HY. Metformin triggers the intrinsic apoptotic response in human AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells by activating AMPK and suppressing mTOR/AKT signaling. Int J Oncol 2019; 54:1271-1281. [PMID: 30720062 PMCID: PMC6411354 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin is commonly used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and is associated with a decreased risk of cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated that metformin can act alone or in synergy with certain anticancer agents to achieve anti-neoplastic effects on various types of tumors via adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. However, the role of metformin in AMPK-mediated apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells is poorly understood. In the current study, metformin exhibited a potent anti-proliferative effect and induced apoptotic characteristics in human AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells, as demonstrated by MTT assay, morphological observation method, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and caspase-3/7 assay kits. Western blot analysis demonstrated that treatment with metformin increased the phosphorylation of AMPK, and decreased the phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR and p70S6k. Compound C (an AMPK inhibitor) suppressed AMPK phosphorylation and significantly abrogated the effects of metformin on AGS cell viability. Metformin also reduced the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK, JNK and p38). Additionally, metformin significantly increased the cellular ROS level and included loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Metformin altered apoptosis-associated signaling to downregulate the BAD phosphorylation and Bcl-2, pro-caspase-9, pro-caspase-3 and pro-caspase-7 expression, and to upregulate BAD, cytochrome c, and Apaf-1 proteins levels in AGS cells. Furthermore, z-VAD-fmk (a pan-caspase inhibitor) was used to assess mitochondria-mediated caspase-dependent apoptosis in metformin-treated AGS cells. The findings demonstrated that metformin induced AMPK-mediated apoptosis, making it appealing for development as a novel anticancer drug for the treating gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Cheng Lu
- Department of Sport Performance, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung 40404, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Jo-Hua Chiang
- Department of Nursing, Chung Jen Catholic Junior College, Chiayi 62241, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Fuu-Jen Tsai
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Yuan-Man Hsu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Yu-Ning Juan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Jai-Sing Yang
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Hong-Yi Chiu
- Department of Pharmacy, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien 97002, Taiwan, R.O.C
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12
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Hu Q, Li L, Zou X, Xu L, Yi P. Berberine Attenuated Proliferation, Invasion and Migration by Targeting the AMPK/HNF4α/WNT5A Pathway in Gastric Carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1150. [PMID: 30405404 PMCID: PMC6202939 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Recent epidemiologic studies have found that patients with diabetes have a higher risk of gastric cancer (GC), and the long-term use of metformin is associated with a lower risk of gastric cancer. It is believed that blocking tumor energy metabolic alterations is now emerging as a new therapeutic approach of cancer. Berberine, a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, could modulate lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis by regulating the expression of HNF4α in many metabolic diseases. Here, we investigated the effect of Berberine on GC and its possible molecular mechanism through targeting HNF4α. Methods and Results: (1) AGS and SGC7901 gastric cancer cells were treated with Berberine (BBR). We found that in AGS and SGC7901 cell, BBR inhibited cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner through downregulating C-myc. BBR also induced G0-G1 phase arrest with the decreased expression of cyclin D1. Moreover, BBR attenuated the migration and invasion by downregulating MMP-3. (2) The lentivirus infection was used to silence the expression of HNF4α in SGC7901 cell. The results demonstrated that the knockdown of HNF4α in SGC7901 slowed cells proliferation, induced S phase arrest and dramatically attenuated gastric cancer cells’ metastasis and invasion. (3) We performed GC cells perturbation experiments through BI6015 (an HNF4α antagonist), AICAR (an AMPK activator), Compound C (AMPK-kinase inhibitor), metformin and BBR. Our findings indicated that BBR downregulated HNF4α while upregulating p-AMPK. Moreover, the inhibition of HNF4α by BBR was AMPK dependent. (4) Then the LV-HNF4α-RNAi SGC7901 cell model was used to detect the downstream of HNF4α in vitro. The results showed that the knockdown of HNF4α significantly decreased WNT5A and cytoplasmic β-catenin, but increased E-cadherin in vitro. Berberine also downregulated WNT5A and cytoplasmic β-catenin, the same as LV-HNF4α-RNAi and BI6015 in GC cells. (5) Finally, the SGC7901 and LV-HNF4α-RNAi SGC7901 mouse-xenograft model to evaluate the effect of BBR and HNF4α gene on GC tumor growth. The result illustrated that BBR and knockdown of HNF4α suppressed tumor growth in vivo, and BBR decreased HNF4α, WNT5A and cytoplasmic β-catenin levels, the same effect as HNF4α knockout in vivo. Conclusion: BBR not only had proliferation inhibition effect, attenuated the invasion and migration on GC cell lines, but also suppressed the GC tumor growth in vivo. The anti-gastric cancer mechanism of BBR might be involved in AMPK-HNF4α-WNT5A signaling pathway. HNF4α antagonists, such as BBR, could be a promising anti-gastric cancer treatment supplement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Hu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lingli Li
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Zou
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lijun Xu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ping Yi
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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