二甲双胍抗肿瘤作用及其分子机制的研究进展

二甲双胍是全球范围内治疗2型糖尿病最常用的药物之一,具有使用方便、疗效好、价格低廉且毒副作用小等优点。近年来大量的流行病学研究及体内外实验研究发现二甲双胍能够用于多种肿瘤的治疗及预防,然而其分子机制尚不十分明确;主要包括调节体内胰岛素/IGF-1轴、激活AMPK信号通路、调控micro RNAs的表达、活化Caspase分子、阻断AGEs-RAGE系统等,这些机制为将来二甲双胍应用于肿瘤的预防及临床治疗提供了重要的理论依据。本文针对糖尿病治疗药物二甲双胍在抗肿瘤中的作用及其分子机制进行全面综述。

The Antitumor Effects of Metformin and the Underlying Molecular Mechanisms

Metformin is one of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), with the advantages of convenient use, good efficacy, safety, inexpensive and small side effects. Epidemiological studies suggest that metformin may reduce the cancer risks and overall cancer mortality. Recent studies in vitro and in vivo indicate that metformin inhibits cancer cell growth and reduces cancer risk. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects on cancer are not clear yet, mainly including insulin-IGF axis, AMPK pathway, regulation of microRNAs expression, caspase family activation, blockage of AGE-RAGE system, and et al. These molecular mechanisms may provide an important theoretical basis for metformin to prevent and treat cancer in the future. Here, we pooled data currently available to comprehensively review the antitumor effects and the molecular mechanisms of metformin, an antidiabetic drug.