Could Your Diabetes Medication Be a Cancer Fighter?

A common and cheap diabetes medication, metformin, may hold the key to protecting millions from an aggressive and deadly form of blood cancer, according to groundbreaking research from the University of Cambridge.

Metformin: More Than Just a Sugar Control!

Costing just 35p per pill in the UK, metformin is primarily used to manage diabetes, but recent findings suggest it may be effective in preventing acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). This type of blood cancer is notorious for its rapid onset and lethality, claiming the lives of about 80% of diagnosed patients.

A Promising Study with Strong Evidence

Initially tested on mice, the researchers discovered that metformin slowed the growth of cancer cells linked to a specific gene mutation known as DNMT3A. When they examined health records from over 400,000 individuals, they found that those on metformin were less likely to exhibit harmful changes in this gene, reinforcing their earlier results.

The Urgent Need for Effective AML Treatments

With approximately 3,100 cases of AML diagnosed in the UK each year, and only 20% of patients surviving beyond five years, effective prevention methods are critical. While genetic screening can identify those at risk, no existing treatments can stop AML from developing—until now. Experts are optimistic that metformin could be repurposed for this purpose.

Challenges in Treating Blood Cancer

Professor George Vassiliou, a blood health expert, emphasizes the challenges posed by blood cancers like AML: "Unlike solid tumors, which can often be surgically removed if detected early, blood cancers lack a definitive location for intervention," he explained. This underscores the need for preventive measures and medical treatment tailored to at-risk individuals.

Fast-Tracking Cancer Treatment with Existing Medications

Dr. Rubina Ahmed from Blood Cancer UK, which helped fund the study, highlighted the potential benefits of repurposing safe, established medications like metformin. Creating new treatments from drugs that are already well-tolerated could expedite their availability to patients, sidestepping the time-consuming stages of typical drug development.

Clinical Trials on the Horizon!

The researchers are gearing up for clinical trials to validate these promising findings, specifically targeting patients with the DNMT3A gene mutation linked to an increased risk of AML.

Spotting the Symptoms

Recognizing AML can be difficult due to vague symptoms that mimic common illnesses. Signs include fatigue, fever, recurrent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, shortness of breath, unintended weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, and bone pain.

Metformin in Numbers

As of 2023/24, over 3.6 million patients were prescribed antidiabetic medications like metformin across the UK, with an astounding 26 million prescriptions issued last year alone.

A New Hope for Vulnerable Patients

While the study is still in early stages, cancer advocacy groups, including Cancer Research UK, stress the importance of confirming these results with rigorous clinical trials. The future of AML treatment could involve metformin, revolutionizing how we approach this deadliest of cancers.