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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. They should have a drug by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    that's stops people from posting off topic first posts.

  2. Re:Non-human model systems by sumthinboutjesus · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Heaven forbid you have to read something longer than one line. My bad. I'll try to keep you from having to read or think next time. You almost must not have been around Slashdot for a while. Next time try adding something to the discussion instead of being a jackass.