Biomedical Research

Objective: To elucidate the inhibition mechanism of metformin on prostate cancer growth, we studied the effect of metformin in a mouse model.

Methods: Six-week old male BALB/c nude mice in SPF level were divided into three groups after tumour initiation and were administered once daily intraperitoneally for 3 weeks: control group, metformin-treated group and picropodophyllin-treated (PPP, IGF1R inhibitor) group. We assessed the effect of metformin on tumour volume, tumour weight and IGF1R/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in mice.

Results: Metformin treatment significantly reduced tumour weight compared with those of untreated control group and picropodophyllin-treated group. IGF-1R mRNA levels and PI3K, p-Akt and Akt protein levels of metformin-treated group were significantly decreased than control group and picropodophyllin-treated group.

Conclusion: Metformin inhibits the growth of prostate cancer by inhibiting IGF1R/PI3K/Akt signalling axis and it may be beneficial for prostate cancer treatment.

Author(s): Dongfang Jiang, Qiang Bu, Minghui Zeng, Suobing Qin, Dongdong Xia, Yi Peng
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