ReviewMolecules and cells2013
Metabolic roles of AMPK and metformin in cancer cells.
Review in Molecules and cells, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 86 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
86 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 133 citations in OpenAlex.
- Association Between Metformin Use and Risk of Lung Cancer in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2026 · on this mapPooled it
- Will metformin use lead to a decreased risk of thyroid cancer? A systematic review and meta-analyses.European journal of medical research · 2023Pooled it
- The effect of metformin on biomarkers associated with breast cancer outcomes: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and dose-response of randomized clinical trials.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2020 · on this mapPooled it
- Trial
- The dual role of AMPK in cancer metabolic reprogramming.Molecular biology reports · 2026Review
- Dose-Response Relationship of Niclosamide and Metformin Combination in ApcGut and liver · 2026Article
- Synergistic induction of apoptosis by the epigenetic modulator decitabine and metformin in gastric cancer cells highlights the potential for combination therapy.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Drug Repurposing in Oncology: A Strategic Pathway to Unlocking New Therapeutic Potential.Therapeutic innovation & regulatory science · 2026Review
- Research Progress on the Molecular Mechanism of Metformin Regulating AMPK Signaling Pathway in Inhibiting Liver Cancer.OncoTargets and therapy · 2026Review
- Translating Metabolic Interventions into Breast Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Beyond EGFR and Checkpoint Blockade.Biomedicines · 2025Review
- Obesity and Pancreatic Diseases: From Inflammation to Oncogenesis and the Impact of Weight Loss Interventions.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Metformin and glioma: Targeting metabolic dysregulation for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.Translational oncology · 2025Review
- Dietary Restrictions and Cancer Prevention: State of the Art.Nutrients · 2025Review
- The Gut Microbiota-Related Antihyperglycemic Effect of Metformin.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- AMPK in Intestinal Health and Disease: A Multifaceted Therapeutic Target for Metabolic and Inflammatory Disorders.Drug design, development and therapy · 2025Review
- Reversal of metformin's anti-proliferative effect in fission yeastnpj metabolic health and disease · 2025Article
- Metabolic crossroads: unravelling immune cell dynamics in gastrointestinal cancer drug resistance.Cancer drug resistance (Alhambra, Calif.) · 2025Review
- Article
- Review
26 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Metformin is one of the most widely used anti-diabetic agents in the world, and a growing body of evidence suggests that it may also be effective as an anti-cancer drug. Observational studies have shown that metformin reduces cancer incidence and cancer-related mortality in multiple types of cancer. These results have drawn attention to the mechanisms underlying metformin's anti-cancer effects, which may include triggering of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, resulting in vulnerability to an energy crisis (leading to cell death under conditions of nutrient deprivation) and a reduction in circulating insulin/IGF-1 levels. Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the benefits, appropriate dosage, and tolerability of metformin in the context of cancer therapy. This review highlights fundamental aspects of the molecular mechanisms underlying metformin's anti-cancer effects, describes the epidemiological evidence and ongoing clinical challenges, and proposes directions for future translational research.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.