Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39844411›Full record

SynthesisCurrent cancer drug targets2026

Preventive and Therapeutic effects of Metformin in Cancer: A Meta- Analysis of RCT and Cohort Studies.

Mikiyas Amare Getu, Xianbin Zhang, Jia Wang, Kunpeng Xu, Ying Ying, Li Ma, Peng Gong

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current cancer drug targets, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mikiyas Amare GetuGuangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China.ORCID 0000-0001-7752-4855
Xianbin ZhangDepartment of General Surgery, Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
Jia WangDepartment of General Surgery, Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
Kunpeng XuDepartment of Quality Management, Dalian No.3 People's Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Lvshun Road 9, Dalian, 116044, China.
Ying YingDepartment of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China.
Li MaDepartment of Epidemiology, Dalian Medical University, Lvshun Road 9, Dalian, China.
Peng GongDepartment of General Surgery, Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is discrepancy of results among various individual and meta- analytical studies about the effect of metformin on cancer risk and patients' survival. Therefore, we have conducted a comprehensive, updated meta-analysis to evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effects of metformin for cancer patients, as well as the incidence of adverse reactions, among metformin users.

methodsA total of 18 studies (10 cohort studies and 8 randomized controlled trials) involving 1,300,820 participants from Europe, North America, and Asia were included in this meta-analysis.

resultsNo significant association was found between metformin use and overall survival (Hazard ratio = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.80 - 1.30) and progressive-free survival (Hazard ratio = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.76 - 1.31). In addition, the summary risk estimates for adverse reactions of metformin were not statistically significant between intervention and control groups (Risk Ratio = 1.11; 95% CI, 0.94 - 1.31). However, metformin use was associated with a reduction in cancer risk (Hazard ratio = 0.90, 95% CI, 0.86 - 0.94).

conclusionMetformin does not significantly prolong the overall survival and progressivefree survival of cancer patients, but it may effectively reduce the risk of cancer occurrence.

Indexed as

Hypoglycemic AgentsMetforminNeoplasmsCohort StudiesHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicHypoglycemic AgentsMetformincancerincidencemeta-analysisMetforminsurvivaltherapeutic.

Identifiers

PMID39844411

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.