Galloflavin plus metformin treatment impairs pancreatic cancer cells

Abstract

Background/Aim: In this study, we evaluated the effect of galloflavin, an inhibitor of lactate dehydrogenase, in combination with metformin, an anti-diabetic drug and inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Materials and Methods: We explored the effect of galloflavin and metformin on proliferation and cell death of murine 6606PDA and human MIA PaCa-2 cells. Results: We observed that monotherapies of galloflavin and metformin both inhibit proliferation and induce cancer cell death. Moreover, the combination of both agents increased these effects on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. The inhibition of proliferation by this combination therapy can be detected under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, leading to the assumption that this therapy might impair insufficiently supplied solid tumors as well as small clusters of cancer cells, e.g. after metastatic dissemination. Conclusion: Galloflavin, especially in combination with metformin, has a strong anti-cancerous effect on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.