ArticleCancer biology & therapy2016
Metformin inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration, and tumor growth through upregulation of PEDF expression.
Article in Cancer biology & therapy, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 56 citations in OpenAlex.
- Metformin therapy and the risk of colorectal adenoma in patients with type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis.Oncotarget · 2017 · on this mapPooled it
- FTO-Mediated m6A Demethylation of SERPINF1 Attenuates Multiple Myeloma Progression via the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway.Journal of microbiology and biotechnology · 2026Article
- Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Prognostic Potential of Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor in Cancer.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Metformin and its Nanoformulations in Cancer Prevention and Therapy.Current pharmaceutical design · 2025Review
- Exosomes biogenesis was increased in metformin-treated human ovary cancer cells; possibly to mediate resistance.Cancer cell international · 2024Article
- Review
- Potential Mechanisms of Metformin-Induced Apoptosis in HeLa Cells.Biomolecules · 2023Article
- Unraveling the Peculiar Features of Mitochondrial Metabolism and Dynamics in Prostate Cancer.Cancers · 2023Review
- Systematic review of antitumour efficacy and mechanism of metformin activity in prostate cancer models.BJUI compass · 2023Review
- Metformin regulates multiple signaling pathways within castration-resistant human prostate cancer cells.BMC cancer · 2022Article
- Metformin and Cancer Hallmarks: Molecular Mechanisms in Thyroid, Prostate and Head and Neck Cancer Models.Biomolecules · 2022Review
- The Effect of Metformin on Male Reproductive Function and Prostate: An Updated Review.The world journal of men's health · 2022Review
- Metformin suppresses breast cancer growth via inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2.Oncology letters · 2021Article
- Effects of different combined regimens of cisplatin, metformin, and quercetin on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and subcutaneous xenografts.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- HMGA2 promotes breast cancer metastasis by modulating Hippo-YAP signaling pathway.Cancer biology & therapy · 2021Article
- The Combination of Metformin and Disulfiram-Cu for Effective Radiosensitization on Glioblastoma Cells.Cell journal · 2020Article
- Silybin Prevents Prostate Cancer by Inhibited the ALDH1A1 Expression in the Retinol Metabolism Pathway.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2020Article
- Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Promotes the Growth and Migration of Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.Frontiers in oncology · 2019Article
- Metformin alters H2A.Z dynamics and regulates androgen dependent prostate cancer progression.Oncotarget · 2018Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Metformin has been reported to inhibit the growth of various types of cancers, including prostate cancer. Yet the mode of anti-cancer action of metformin and the underlying mechanisms remain not fully elucidated. We hypothesized that the antitumorigenic effects of metformin are mediated through upregulation of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) expression in prostate cancer cells. In this report, metformin treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of prostate cancer cells, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, Metformin markedly suppressed migration and invasion and induced apoptosis of both LNCaP and PC3 cancer cells. Metformin also reduced PC3 tumor growth in BALB/c nude mice in vivo. Furthermore, metformin treatment was associated with higher PEDF expression in both prostate cancer cells and tumor tissue. Taken together, metformin inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth, and these activities are mediated by upregulation of PEDF expression. These findings provide a novel insight into the molecular functions of metformin as an anticancer agent.
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