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Administration of Metformin to Increase the Efficacy of Chemotherapy Regimen in Cancers; a New Look to an Old Drug Publisher



Hooshyar N1 ; Tolouian R2 ; Ghasemi B3 ; Nowrouzi N3 ; Yalameha B4 ; Khosravifarsani M5 ; Nasri P6
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
  3. 3. Faculty of Pharmacy, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary
  4. 4. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
  5. 5. Cancer Prevention Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  6. 6. Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Source: Immunopathologia Persa Published:2019


Abstract

Chemotherapeutic agents are still the major and most common therapy to prevent tumor growth. These drugs have various adverse effects in different organs in addition to systemic effects. Finding more specific and effective drugs or new adjuvant therapeutic substance is needed to improve the success rate. Several studies have proposed the possible mechanisms of anti-neoplastic of metformin, however, its exact mechanism is still obscure. The suggested mechanisms are; alteration in the host metabolic environment after administration of metformin, such as decreases in insulin-dependent stimulation of tumor growth or direct effect on cancer cells, such as the impact on adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Metformin, as an adjuvant therapy, synergistically exerts growth inhibitory effects against cell growth and can induce cell apoptosis in an animal model. Adding metformin to the chemotherapy regimen may reduce resistance and enhance therapeutic efficacy. © 2019 The Author(s); Published by Nickan Research Institute.