Metformin Prevents Cancer in Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes and cancer represent two chronic, severe, heterogenous conditions, presenting a multifactorial etiology. Epide- miological studies clearly indicate that the risk for several types of cancer (pancreas, liver, breast, colorectal, genital, urinary tract) is increased in patients suffering from diabetes. Mortality is also moderately increased. A lot of factors may influence the risk for developing cancer: diabetes duration, degree of metabolic control, antidiabetic medication, presence of chronic complications. Hyper- insulinemia is quite likely to favour cancer in patients with diabetes, because it represents a growth factor with metabolic and also mitogenic effects.