Efficacy of metformin for advanced-stage endometrial cancer: A case report

Mol Clin Oncol. 2017 Mar;6(3):441-443. doi: 10.3892/mco.2017.1130. Epub 2017 Jan 13.

Abstract

The paradigm of obesity, diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance possibly plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer (EC). Impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance may play a direct or facilitating role in the neoplastic transformation of the endometrium, whereas antidiabetic therapy, particularly with metformin, has been suggested to inhibit EC progression. We herein present the case of a patient with EC who received metformin monotherapy due to complications after undergoing surgery. At 45 months after the introduction of metformin treatment, the patient had no complaints and continued receiving metformin without signs of tumor recurrence. As metformin is widely used among diabetic patients and in ongoing clinical trials in cancer patients, the aforementioned results deserve further clinical investigation.

Keywords: endometrial cancer; metformin.