Common Diabetic Drug Fights Cancer Stem Cells

Posted by kdawson on Friday October 2, 2009 @02:23AM 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."

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I feel jealous by BadAnalogyGuy · 2009-10-02 02:28 · Score: 5, Funny

I wish I was a mouse. Then I'd get all the good cancer treatments.
Re:Cruel and unusual punishment by Nick+Number · 2009-10-02 02:54 · Score: 5, Funny

It's a slippery slope. If we allow this treatment to go through, what next? Take away their caffeine?
After that we cut off their supply of Robert Smith tunes.

That's right; no Cure for cancer say I.

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