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Common Diabetic Drug Fights Cancer Stem Cells

Posted by kdawson on from the getting-at-the-root-or-at-least-the-stem dept.

SubtleGuest writes "In the latest issue of Cancer Research, a breakthrough study shows that Metformin, a cheap and common diabetic medicine, kills cancer stem cells — the cells postulated to be responsible for tumor resistance and recurrence after chemotherapy (research abstract here). It has been known that diabetics taking Metformin experience lower cancer rates, and now it is apparent why that may be and how it may apply to non-diabetics as well. When combined with Doxorubicin to kill non-stem cancer cells, the results are nothing short of astonishing: total remission in a mouse xenograft model. The results are achieved at levels below the dosage needed for diabetic control, opening many new avenues in cancer treatment and prevention."

2 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Non-human model systems by moon3 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    How metformin affects cancer isn't certain

    In addition to these results being only in vitro, here comes a sad reminder of the state of this ehm 'research', it looks like they know little about the mechanisms of cancer, this is the cave man trial and error approach still, lots of animals have to die horrible death for them to dig something up, but fingers crossed they finally drawn the winning ticket in this cancer beating lottery.

  2. Rebrand it, baby. by 93,000 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    ". . . shows that Metformin, a cheap and common diabetic medicine . . ."

    Sweet! Now they can re-brand it as an expensive and elite cancer medicine after they pull Metformin off the market.

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    Sweet informative mod.