Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (아시아태평양암예방학회)
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Metformin Inhibits Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Inducing Apoptosis Via Mitochondrion-mediated Pathway

  • Xiong, Yu (Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University) ;
  • Lu, Qing-Jun (Department of General Surgery, Binzhou Central Hospital) ;
  • Zhao, Jing (Department of Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University) ;
  • Wu, Guo-Yang (Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University)
  • Published : 2012.07.31
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Abstract

Recently, population-based studies of type 2 diabetes patients have provided evidence that metformin treatment is associated with a reduced cancer incidence and mortality, but its mode of action remains unclear. Here we report effects of metformin on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Hep-G2 cells and details of molecular mechanisms of metformin activity. Our research indicates that metformin displays anticancer activity against HCC through inhibition of the mTOR translational pathway in an AMPK-independent manner, leading to G1 arrest in the cell-cycle and subsequent cell apoptosis through the mitochondrion-dependent pathway. Furthermore, we showed that metformin strongly attenuated colony formation and dramatically inhibited Hep-G2 tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, our studies suggested that metformin might have potential as a cytotoxic drug in the prevention and treatment of HCC.

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References

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