The multifaceted effects of metformin on tumor microenvironment

Publication date: Available online 22 May 2019Source: Seminars in Cell & Developmental BiologyAuthor(s): Ivana Kurelac, Nikkitha Umesh Ganesh, Maria Iorio, Anna Maria Porcelli, Giuseppe GasparreAbstractThe efficacy of metformin in treating cancer has been extensively investigated since epidemiologic studies associated this anti-diabetic drug with a lower risk of cancer incidence. Since tumors are complex systems, in which cancer cells coexist and interact with several different types of non-malignant cells, it is not surprising that anti-cancer drugs affect not only cancer cells, but also the abundance and functions of cells of the tumor microenvironment. Recent years have seen a wide collection of reports showing how metformin, as well as other complex I inhibitors, may influence cancer progression by modulating the phenotype of non-transformed cells in a tumor. In this review, we particularly focus on the effect of metformin on angiogenesis, cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor-associated macrophages and cancer immunosuppression.
Source: Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology - Category: Cytology Source Type: research