A commonly used diabetes drug, which costs just around 2 pence per tablet, could cut the risk of prostate cancer by more than a third, according to a new study.
The drug Metformin has been used for years by millions of patients to control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Now, one of the largest studies to analyse its anti-cancer effects suggests that it may also help prevent prostate cancer – a disease that causes over 12,000 deaths in the UK each year.
Researchers say that in the future it is possible for men at high risk for this disease to take metformin as a preventive measure.
According to cancer researcher Visalini Nair-Shalliker from the University of Sydney, this is a very important issue that is currently being analyzed by scientists.
How common is prostate cancer?
More than 60,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, with the number of cases increasing by over 40 percent in the last 15 years.
Metformin has been studied as a potential treatment because some research suggests it may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The drug lowers levels of insulin, a hormone that can help malignant cells grow and spread.
Other studies have also shown that metformin may be effective in treating breast cancer and preventing some forms of leukemia.
What the study showed
In the latest study, experts from the University of Sydney followed nearly 95,000 men between 2012 and 2019. They looked at how many of them were diagnosed with prostate cancer and compared this to their use of metformin.
The results, published in the scientific journal BJC Reports, showed that just over 5,000 participants developed prostate tumors.
However, men who used metformin were 35 percent less likely to be diagnosed with this type of cancer.
Many of the participants were overweight or obese – a known risk factor for cancer. But even men of normal weight who took metformin saw a reduction in risk.
The importance of early treatment
Previous studies have focused mainly on the use of metformin for patients who already had advanced cancer, and the results have been limited.
However, the research team in Sydney believes the drug could be more effective if used earlier, perhaps even before the cancer is diagnosed.
According to Sophie Brooks from Cancer Research UK, further studies are needed to better understand how metformin may affect prostate cancer risk, but the early results are encouraging.
Meanwhile, Simon Grieveson from Prostate Cancer UK said the organisation is supporting research to see if this drug could help extend the lives of some patients - a development that could significantly change treatment for many men. /GazetaExpress
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