The association between metformin therapy and risk of gynecological cancer in patients: Two meta-analyses
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recently, metformin, first-line drug for type 2 diabetes, has been reported to treat some gynecological tumors. However, these epidemiological studies have never been formally summarized. Considering a single study may lack the power to provide reliable conclusion, we performed two meta-analyses with different indicators to assess metformin's role in reducing the risk of gynecological cancers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was carried out in PubMed, Medline (Ovid), Embase database (last search was performed on August 15, 2018). The relative risk (RR) along with a random-effects model were performed on Revman 5.3 and STATA 15.1 for risks analyzing.
RESULTS: A total of 1,710,080 patients in 7 studies were included in first meta-analysis. The results suggested metformin may reduce the risk of gynecological cancers (RR=0.49, 95%CI=0.29-0.82, and p=0.006). In the subgroup analyses: significantly decreased risks were found among Asians (RR=0.27, 95%CI=0.17-0.41, and p<0.00001), ovarian cancer (RR=0.18, 95%CI=0.12-0.28, and p<0.00001), and cervical cancer (RR=0.60, 95%CI=0.43-0.83, and p=0.002), but not in Caucasians (RR=0.81, 95%CI=0.50-1.32, and p=0.40) or in endometrial cancer (RR=0.71, 95%CI=0.29-1.74, and p=0.45). Meanwhile, another total of 8,335,332 cumulative follow-up years, person years, were conducted in 8 studies. The results indicated no statistical significance in general (RR=0.59, 95%CI=0.32-1.10, p=0.10), and no difference in…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,710,080 participants or records.
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