OBJECTIVE: Metformin, a commonly used drug in the treatment of type II diabetes, may reduce cancer risk and improve cancer prognosis. We evaluated its effect on epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. METHODS: The OVCAR-3 and OVCAR-4 cell lines were exposed to metformin with and without cisplatin. Cytotoxicity assays were performed in triplicates using the Alamar colorimetric assay. Levels of total and phosphorylated AMPK, p70S6K and S6K were evaluated by Western blotting following exposure to metformin. RESULTS: Metformin induces dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition of OVCAR-3 and OVCAR-4 cell lines. Metformin potentiated the effect of cisplatin in vitro. Metformin growth inhibition was partly abolished by the AMPK inhibitor, compound C. Western blotting demonstrated that metformin at cytotoxic concentrations, induced AMPK phosphorylation and decreased p70S6K and S6K phosphorylation, suggesting the mechanism for its anti-proliferative action. CONCLUSION: Metformin significantly inhibits the growth of ovarian cancer cell lines and potentiates cisplatin. Further pre-clinical studies are being conducted to determine the applicability of metformin in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE:Metformin, a commonly used drug in the treatment of type II diabetes, may reduce cancer risk and improve cancer prognosis. We evaluated its effect on epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. METHODS: The OVCAR-3 and OVCAR-4 cell lines were exposed to metformin with and without cisplatin. Cytotoxicity assays were performed in triplicates using the Alamar colorimetric assay. Levels of total and phosphorylated AMPK, p70S6K and S6K were evaluated by Western blotting following exposure to metformin. RESULTS:Metformin induces dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition of OVCAR-3 and OVCAR-4 cell lines. Metformin potentiated the effect of cisplatin in vitro. Metformin growth inhibition was partly abolished by the AMPK inhibitor, compound C. Western blotting demonstrated that metformin at cytotoxic concentrations, induced AMPK phosphorylation and decreased p70S6K and S6K phosphorylation, suggesting the mechanism for its anti-proliferative action. CONCLUSION:Metformin significantly inhibits the growth of ovarian cancer cell lines and potentiates cisplatin. Further pre-clinical studies are being conducted to determine the applicability of metformin in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Authors: Cristóbal Aguilar-Gallardo; Emily Cecilia Rutledge; Ana M Martínez-Arroyo; Juan José Hidalgo; Santiago Domingo; Carlos Simón Journal: Stem Cell Rev Rep Date: 2012-09 Impact factor: 5.739
Authors: L D Kellenberger; J E Bruin; J Greenaway; N E Campbell; R A Moorehead; A C Holloway; J Petrik Journal: J Oncol Date: 2010-02-17 Impact factor: 4.375
Authors: Jason R Brown; Daniel K Chan; Jessica J Shank; Kent A Griffith; Huihui Fan; Robert Szulawski; Kun Yang; R Kevin Reynolds; Carolyn Johnston; Karen McLean; Shitanshu Uppal; J Rebecca Liu; Lourdes Cabrera; Sarah E Taylor; Brian C Orr; Francesmary Modugno; Pooja Mehta; Michael Bregenzer; Geeta Mehta; Hui Shen; Lan G Coffman; Ronald J Buckanovich Journal: JCI Insight Date: 2020-06-04