TY - JOUR
T1 - Targeting metabolism for cancer treatment and prevention
T2 - Metformin, an old drug with multi-faceted effects
AU - Pierotti, M. A.
AU - Berrino, F.
AU - Gariboldi, M.
AU - Melani, C.
AU - Mogavero, A.
AU - Negri, T.
AU - Pasanisi, P.
AU - Pilotti, S.
PY - 2013/3/21
Y1 - 2013/3/21
N2 - Understanding the complexity of cancer and of the underlying regulatory networks provides a new paradigm that tackles cancer development and treatment through a system biology approach, contemporarily acting on various intersecting pathways. Cancer cell metabolism is an old pathogenetic issue that has recently gained new interest as target for therapeutic approaches. More than 70 years ago, Warburg discovered that malignant cells generally have altered metabolism with high rates of glucose uptake and increased glycolysis, even under aerobic condition. Observational studies have provided evidence that impaired metabolism, obesity, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia may have a role in cancer development, progression and prognosis, and actually diabetic and obese patients have increased cancer risk. On the other hand, caloric restriction has been shown to prolong life span and reduce cancer incidence in several animal models, having an impact on different metabolic pathways. Metformin, an antidiabetic drug widely used for over 40 years, mimics caloric restriction acting on cell metabolism at multiple levels, reducing all energy-consuming processes in the cells, including cell proliferation. By overviewing molecular mechanisms of action, epidemiological evidences, experimental data in tumor models and early clinical study results, this review provides information supporting the promising use of metformin in cancer prevention and treatment.
AB - Understanding the complexity of cancer and of the underlying regulatory networks provides a new paradigm that tackles cancer development and treatment through a system biology approach, contemporarily acting on various intersecting pathways. Cancer cell metabolism is an old pathogenetic issue that has recently gained new interest as target for therapeutic approaches. More than 70 years ago, Warburg discovered that malignant cells generally have altered metabolism with high rates of glucose uptake and increased glycolysis, even under aerobic condition. Observational studies have provided evidence that impaired metabolism, obesity, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia may have a role in cancer development, progression and prognosis, and actually diabetic and obese patients have increased cancer risk. On the other hand, caloric restriction has been shown to prolong life span and reduce cancer incidence in several animal models, having an impact on different metabolic pathways. Metformin, an antidiabetic drug widely used for over 40 years, mimics caloric restriction acting on cell metabolism at multiple levels, reducing all energy-consuming processes in the cells, including cell proliferation. By overviewing molecular mechanisms of action, epidemiological evidences, experimental data in tumor models and early clinical study results, this review provides information supporting the promising use of metformin in cancer prevention and treatment.
KW - AMPK
KW - cancer treatment
KW - chemoprevention
KW - energetic metabolism
KW - metformin
KW - mTORC
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884211823&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84884211823&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/onc.2012.181
DO - 10.1038/onc.2012.181
M3 - Article
C2 - 22665053
AN - SCOPUS:84884211823
VL - 32
SP - 1475
EP - 1487
JO - Oncogene
JF - Oncogene
SN - 0950-9232
IS - 12
ER -