Metformin, a medication commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, helps the body regulate sugar in the bloodstream. Part of the class of drugs known as biguanides, metformin reduces the amount of sugar you absorb from food and the amount produced by the liver. Metformin also impacts the way the body will respond to insulin, the natural substance that regulates blood sugar levels.
In addition to metformin's benefits for people with type 2 diabetes, recent studies have suggested potential efficacy for specific types of cancer treatment and prevention. A recent study published in Blood Advances investigated how metformin impacted the risk of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), a rare class of blood cancers characterized by excess blood and bone marrow cells. Patients with MPNs can develop complications with bleeding, anemia, infection, and fatigue. In some cases, MPN becomes acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive type of cancer.
The researchers utilized Danish registers to perform a case-control study. They identified patients diagnosed with MPN between 2010 and 2018 and collected information on the patients’ history of metformin use. To determine the association between metformin use and the risk of MPN, the researchers also identified age- and sex-matched controls. In total, the study included 3,816 cases and 19.080 controls, making it a comprehensive study.
The study found that 7% of cases and 8.2% of controls had used metformin. Those who used metformin for five or more years accounted for only 1.1% of cases and 2% of controls. The analysis further demonstrated that metformin use resulted in significantly lower odds of developing an MPN diagnosis.
The findings suggest that metformin could serve as an effective cancer prevention agent for MPNs and potentially other blood-related malignancies. However, it's important to note that additional studies without a retrospective design will be crucial to ascertain the long-term benefits of this drug in a cancer-preventative nature.
Sources: Blood Adv