Metformin potentiates the chemotherapeutic effects of doxorubicin on 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5b] pyridine-induced Mammary Carcinoma in rats

Synergistic anticancer effects of doxorubicin and metformin combination therapy: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Doxorubicin (DOX) a chemotherapy drug often leads to the development of resistance, in cancer cells after prolonged treatment. Recent studies have suggested that using metformin plus doxorubicin could result in synergic effects. This study focuses on exploring the co-treat treatment of doxorubicin and metformin for various cancers.

METHOD

Following the PRISMA guidelines we conducted a literature search using different databases such as Embase, Scopus, Web of Sciences, PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar until July 2023. We selected search terms based on the objectives of this study. After screening a total of 30 articles were included.

RESULTS

The combination of doxorubicin and metformin demonstrated robust anticancer effects, surpassing the outcomes of monotherapy drug treatment. In vitro experiments consistently demonstrated inhibition of cancer cell growth and increased rates of cell death. Animal studies confirmed substantial reductions in tumor growth and improved survival rates, emphasizing the synergistic impact of the combined therapy. The research' discoveries collectively emphasize the capability of the co-treat doxorubicin-metformin as a compelling approach in cancer treatment, highlighting its potential to address medicate resistance and upgrade generally helpful results.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study show that the combined treatment regimen including doxorubicin and metformin has significant promise in fighting cancer. The observed synergistic effects suggest that this combination therapy could be valuable, in a setting. This study highlights the need for clinical research to validate and enhance the application of the doxorubicin metformin regimen.

Repurposing of atorvastatin and metformin denotes their individual and combined antiproliferative effects in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Due to the limited success in the treatment of lung adenocarcinomas, new treatment protocols are urgently needed to increase the curability rate and the survival of lung cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES

Although statins, like atorvastatin (Ator), and metformin (Met) are widely accepted as hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic drugs, respectively, there are many predictions about their enhancing antitumor effect when they are combined with traditional chemotherapeutics.

METHODS

The individual and combined antiproliferative potential of Ator and Met was tested by MTT-assay in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cell line, compared to the corresponding effect of Gemcitabine (Gem) with implication on the mechanisms of action.

RESULTS

Initially, both drugs demonstrated concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in A549 cells. Also, their combination index (CI) indicated their synergistic effect at equi-IC50 concentration (CI = 0.00984). Moreover, Ator and/or Met-treated cells revealed disrupted patterns of SOD, CAT, GSH, MDA, and TAC, developed apoptosis, and larger fractions of the cell population were arrested in G0/G1 phase, particularly in cells dually-treated both Ator and Met. These observations were accompanied by downregulation in the expression of iNOS, HO-1, and the angiogenic marker VEGF, meanwhile, an altered expression of MAPK and AMPK was observed.

CONCLUSION

Conclusively, these data suggest that repurposing of Ator and Met demonstrates their individual and combined antiproliferative effect in non-small cell lung cancer and they may adopt a similar mechanism of action.

Molecular interactions between metformin and D-limonene inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis in breast and liver cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a fatal disease that severely affects humans. Designing new anticancer strategies and understanding the mechanism of action of anticancer agents is imperative.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE

In this study, we evaluated the utility of metformin and D-limonene, alone or in combination, as potential anticancer therapeutics using the human liver and breast cancer cell lines HepG2 and MCF-7.

STUDY DESIGN

An integrated systems pharmacology approach is presented for illustrating the molecular interactions between metformin and D-limonene.

METHODS

We applied a systems-based analysis to introduce a drug-target-pathway network that clarifies different mechanisms of treatment. The combination treatment of metformin and D-limonene induced apoptosis in both cell lines compared with single drug treatments, as indicated by flow cytometric and gene expression analysis.

RESULTS

The mRNA expression of Bax and P53 genes were significantly upregulated while Bcl-2, iNOS, and Cox-2 were significantly downregulated in all treatment groups compared with normal cells. The percentages of late apoptotic HepG2 and MCF-7 cells were higher in all treatment groups, particularly in the combination treatment group. Calculations for the combination index (CI) revealed a synergistic effect between both drugs for HepG2 cells (CI = 0.14) and MCF-7 cells (CI = 0.22).

CONCLUSION

Our data show that metformin, D-limonene, and their combinations exerted significant antitumor effects on the cancer cell lines by inducing apoptosis and modulating the expression of apoptotic genes.

Metformin counters oxidative stress and mitigates adverse effects of radiation exposure: An overview

Metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanidine hydrochloride) (MF) is a drug that has long been in use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and recently is coming into use in the radiation therapy of cancer and other conditions. Exposure to ionizing radiation disturbs the redox homeostasis of cells and causes damage to proteins, membranes, and mitochondria, destroying a number of biological processes. After irradiation, MF activates cellular antioxidant and repair systems by signaling to eliminate the harmful consequences of disruption of redox homeostasis. The use of MF in the treatment of the negative effects of irradiation has great potential in medical patients after radiotherapy and in victims of nuclear accidents or radiologic terrorism.