An update on the effectiveness of metformin alone and with chemotherapy drugs on tumor cells

Abstract

Cancer and diabetes are critical risks that reveal many complications. Metformin has long been used in herbal medicine as an anti-diabetes medicine. It is one of the first-line therapies for type two (T2D that has gained use across different healthcare systems. It is the most preferred form of treatment due to its safety, being readily available, and widely used because it has fewer and affordable side effects for many users. The repurposing of metformin used in other treatments to treat cancer patients or the combination of targeted treatments with metformin can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy drugs, enhance the effectiveness, and may reduce resistance to targeted drugs. The mechanism of metformin has been demonstrated and its association with other drugs. It Inhibits cell growth and stops the cell cycle, and stimulates programmed cell death and autophagy of various cancer cells. Patients with diabetes and different kinds of malignancies such as colorectal, hepatic, and ovarian cancers have better response rates after metformin treatment. A combination of metformin and new medications has had a significant effect on those who do not receive metformin. On the other hand, prevailing evidence has greatly proved the benefit of using metformin as an adjuvant agent in medical oncology practice.