Metformin is a type of drug commonly given to people with type 2 diabetes. Metformin reduce blood sugar levels by slowing down the glucose release from the liver and glucose absorption in the intestine. The drug can also treat insulin resistance by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin.

Apart from being used to treat diabetes, many studies have shown that metformin can be used to treat other diseases, one of which is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Metformin is known to increase fertility and help to regulate the menstrual cycle. In 2016, it was found out in a study that the combination of metformin and hypertension drugs had the potential to stop the growth of cancer tumors.

This potential is proven further by the latest research published in the Cell Reports journal. Researchers from Biozentrum and Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd found that a combination of metformin and hypertension drugs can kill the growth of cancer cells by cutting the supply of energy to the cancer cells. The drug called 'drug cocktails' consisted of metformin and syrosingopine. In this publication, the researchers further explained about the work process of the drug in stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Cancer cells need a lot of energy to continue to grow. In the production of that energy, NAD + molecules play an important role, since those molecules help in transforming nutrients into energy. 'Drug cocktails' cut the energy supply of cancer cells by preventing NAD + regeneration during the metabolic process. The cutting of the energy supply may cause the death of cancer cells.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source(s):

• Benjamin, D., Robay, D., Hindupur, S.K., et all (2018). Dual Inhibition of the Lactate Transporter MCT1 and MCT4 Is Synthetic Lethal with Metformin due to NAD + Depletion in Cancer Cells. Cell Reports, 25 (11): 3047-3058, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.11.043.
• Medical News Today - Diabetes and hypertension drug combo kills cancer cells (2018). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324006.php, December 17, 2018.