Metformin use associated with lower risk of cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2
Abstract
Aim In order to increase the database related to the antineoplastic potential of metformin, association between the use of metformin and risk of cancer occurence in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) was investigated. Methods In this cross-sectional study, medical records of patients with DM2 were reviewed for cancer occurence. Data on age, body mass index (BMI), alcohol and nicotine consumption, glucose and HbA1c levels, duration of DM2, medication used in the treatment of DM2 and cancer occurence were collected and analyzed. Unpaired Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparisons between treatment groups, and logistic regression to asses how well our set of predictor variables predicts occurence of carcinoma. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The mean age of 234 included patients was 66.8±11.5 years, and DM2 duration was 7± 6.49 years. Mean glucose value was 8.51±4.17mmol/L, and HbA1c 7.74±1.53. Metformin therapy was prescribed in 190 (81%) patients. Cancer was diagnosed in 16 (6.8%) patients: prostate cancer in eight (3.4%), breast cancer in four (1.7%), rectal cancer in two (0.9%) and cancer of the uterus and cervix in one patient. Age, duration of DM2 and BMI did not contribute significantly to the model, while metformin use was shown to be a significant independent predictor (OR=0.049; 95% CI=0.013-0.181; p=0.001). Conclusion Our findings support the hypothesis that the use of metformin compared to the…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 234 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Metformin as an adjuvant in breast cancer treatment
- Metformin Lysosomal Targeting: A Novel Aspect to Be Investigated for Metformin Repurposing in Neurodegenerative Diseases?
- Aberrant HSF1 signaling activation underlies metformin amelioration of myocardial infarction in mice
- Metformin induces ZFP36 by mTORC1 inhibition in cervical cancer-derived cell lines
- Protein Interaction Network for Identifying Vascular Response of Metformin (Oral Antidiabetic)
- Preventing Long COVID With Metformin
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.