1. Editoriale Page 1 of 1
Metformin in the treatment of pancreatic cancer
Patients with pancreatic cancer often have a high prevalence (80%) of concurrent diabetes or
impaired glucose tolerance, which are characterized by peripheral insulin resistance.
Accumulating epidemiological and experimental evidence suggest metformin, the most
commonly used antidiabetic drug, as an antitumor agent. In our retrospective study of 302
diabetic patients with pancreatic cancer, we observed that metformin users had 4 months
longer overall survival time, 32% reduced risk of death, and about 2-fold higher 2-year
survival rate than the nonmetformin group. These observations add supporting evidence for
the antitumor activity of metformin. Findings from this retrospective investigation should
prompt future research to test the hypothesis that metformin can be used as a supplemental
therapy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Bibliographic Reference:
Sadeghi N et al.: "Metformin Use Is Associated with Better Survival of Diabetic Patients with
Pancreatic Cancer", Clin Cancer Res. 2012 Mar 31. [Epub ahead of print]
Donghui Li
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
file://C:Documents and SettingsutenteDesktopEdit_Li.htm 08/05/2012
![Editoriale Page 1 of 1
Metformin in the treatment of pancreatic cancer
Patients with pancreatic cancer often have a high prevalence (80%) of concurrent diabetes or
impaired glucose tolerance, which are characterized by peripheral insulin resistance.
Accumulating epidemiological and experimental evidence suggest metformin, the most
commonly used antidiabetic drug, as an antitumor agent. In our retrospective study of 302
diabetic patients with pancreatic cancer, we observed that metformin users had 4 months
longer overall survival time, 32% reduced risk of death, and about 2-fold higher 2-year
survival rate than the nonmetformin group. These observations add supporting evidence for
the antitumor activity of metformin. Findings from this retrospective investigation should
prompt future research to test the hypothesis that metformin can be used as a supplemental
therapy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Bibliographic Reference:
Sadeghi N et al.: "Metformin Use Is Associated with Better Survival of Diabetic Patients with
Pancreatic Cancer", Clin Cancer Res. 2012 Mar 31. [Epub ahead of print]
Donghui Li
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
file://C:Documents and SettingsutenteDesktopEdit_Li.htm 08/05/2012](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/editli-120509011836-phpapp01/85/Metformin-in-the-treatment-of-pancreatic-cancer-1-320.jpg)
