Metformin May Boost Response to Breast Cancer Chemo
Results from a study at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center indicate metformin, a medication commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, may improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments administered to patients with early breast cancer.
The scientists used information from the MD Anderson Breast Medical Oncology database to identify 2,529 women with early-stage breast cancer who received chemotherapy before surgery. 2,374 of the patients identified were non-diabetic, 87 were diabetics who were taking metformin, and 68 were diabetic, but not taking metformin. The retrospective study tracked pathologic complete response, or the absence of cancer at the time of surgery.
After adjusting for other factors, the MD Anderson team found 3 times as many diabetic patients taking metformin were cancer-free at the time of their surgery than were diabetic patients not taking the drug. Diabetics taking metformin also had an 8% higher rate of pathologic complete responses than non-diabetic patients.
The researchers say they’re excited by the results, but further investigation is needed to understand metformin’s role as a possible anti-tumor agent. As one of the team members said,
“Our next step is to conduct a number of correlative studies to try and further understand its mechanism.”
Ana M Gonzalez-Angulo, MD
Department of Breast Medical Oncology
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Findings from this research were presented on June 2, 2008, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Source: UT MD Anderson Cancer Center Newsroom
Technorati Tags: neoadjuvant; insulin resistance; pathology
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