Is metformin a new weapon against cancer? – a literature review

Background
Cancer is one of the most serious civilization-related diseases and a challenge for science. An effective drug is constantly being sought. It is crucial to find the right treatment to prevent the premature death of millions of people worldwide. One of the most recently studied drugs for the treatment of cancer is metformin.

Objectives
The aim of this review is to collect current data on the potential usefulness of metformin in the treatment of cancer.

Material and methods
A review of the current literature from recent years on the use of metformin in cancer therapy was conducted. The latest meta-analyses, review papers and clinical trials were analyzed (using databases like e.g. PubMed).

Results
The results of most studies show that the use of metformin in neoplasms has a positive impact. It increases the effectiveness of therapies used in the treatment of cancer.

Conclusions
According to the collected data on metformin, it can be concluded that thanks to its various mechanisms of action, it has high potential in the treatment of cancer. Many studies showed that this drug alone, as well as in combination with other treatments, has proven to be effective in the treatment of cancer. Although much research still needs to be done, the current results look very promising.