Scientists at Columbia University have discovered that metformin, a common and inexpensive diabetes drug, may help treat certain types of prostate cancer.
This breakthrough could lead to better treatment options for men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer.
The research was led by Dr. Alex Papachristodoulou and his team. They found that metformin works best in prostate tumors that have low levels of a protein called NKX3.1. These tumors are often more aggressive and harder to treat.
In these cases, metformin helps by restoring the activity of mitochondria—the energy powerhouses of cells—which are usually not working well in these types of cancer cells.
In studies with mice, metformin showed strong effects in stopping cancer from getting worse. The results also match with real patient data: men with low NKX3.1 tumors who took metformin had better chances of survival.
This could be especially helpful for men with early-stage prostate cancer. Many patients with low-grade tumors are not treated right away but are closely watched instead.
Some of these cancers stay harmless, but others can become more aggressive over time. Metformin might be a useful option during this monitoring stage to prevent cancer from becoming more dangerous.
Dr. Cory Abate-Shen, chair of the Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Therapeutics, explained, “Metformin could be given to patients under surveillance with high-risk tumors when there’s still time to prevent progression to advanced disease.”
The research team is planning a clinical trial to test metformin in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. This study could open the door to using a safe, low-cost medication to slow down or stop the growth of prostate cancer.
This discovery is also important for addressing health disparities. For example, Black men are more likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer. Using metformin could offer a new, more accessible option for helping these patients.
In conclusion, this study brings new hope for prostate cancer treatment. By finding out which patients can benefit most from metformin, scientists are moving closer to creating more targeted, effective, and affordable treatment options.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about Researchers find a new cause of cancer and findings of Scientists make a big breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment.
For more about cancer, please read studies about Research finds a new cause of cancer growth and findings of Scientists find the missing link between autoimmune diseases and blood cancer.
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