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Review
. 2017 Jan 26;36(1):17.
doi: 10.1186/s40880-017-0184-9.

Metformin targets multiple signaling pathways in cancer

Yong Lei  1   2 , Yanhua Yi  3 , Yang Liu  1   2 , Xia Liu  1   2 , Evan T Keller  4 , Chao-Nan Qian  5 , Jian Zhang  6   7   8 , Yi Lu  9   10
Affiliations
Review

Metformin targets multiple signaling pathways in cancer

Yong Lei et al. Chin J Cancer. .

Abstract

Metformin, an inexpensive and well-tolerated oral agent commonly used in the first-line treatment of type 2 diabetes, has become the focus of intense research as a candidate anticancer agent. Here, we discuss the potential of metformin in cancer therapeutics, particularly its functions in multiple signaling pathways, including AMP-activated protein kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, insulin-like growth factor, c-Jun N-terminal kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, and nuclear factor kappaB pathways. In addition, cutting-edge targeting of cancer stem cells by metformin is summarized.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer stem cell; Metformin; Signaling pathway.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Signaling pathways through which metformin acts in cancer. IGF-1 insulin-like growth factor-1, MAPK mitogen-activated protein kinase, REDD1 regulated in development and DNA damage 1, AMPK adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, mTOR mammalian target of rapamycin, NF-κB nuclear factor kappaB, MDR1 multidrug resistance 1, HER2 human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, IGF-1R IGF-1 receptor, IR insulin receptor
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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