Metformin and proliferation of cancer cell lines

Abstract

Introduction: Metformin is a widely used drug in treating type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance and nowadays scientists are searching for new potential and multiple roles in prevention and treatment of carcinogenic processes. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to compare the impact of normoglycemia and hyperglycemia with doses of metformin on vivacity and proliferation of cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MCF-7/DX, A549, CCRF/CEM, THP-1, NHDF). Material and methods: We designed our experiment using raising glucose environment (40 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM, 300 mM) and we added increasing concentrations of metformin (5 mM, 10 mM, 20 mM, 30 mM). We incubated cells for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h. In order to measure of viability of cancer cells we use MTT assay – a typical test to mark cytotoxic effects of tested substances. Results: Analysis indicated that populations of cancer cells in our terms was lowering, the incubation of 24 h and 48 h showed favorable results than 72 h and 96 h. In normoglycemic environment (glucose level about 100 mM) and after added metformin in various concentrations we observed decreasing percentage of vivid cells for all cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MCF-7/DX, A549, CCRF/CEM, THP-1). Conclusions: The results of our study showed beneficial effects of metformin on decreasing proliferation of cancer cells. Percentage of vivid populations were lowering and we confirmed anti-cancer effect of this drug.