INVESTIGATING MULTIPLE IN VITRO PATHWAYS AFFECTED BY METFORMIN IN FELINE CANCER CELLS

摘要

Metformin (N', N'-dimethylbiguanide) is an oral anti-hyperglycemic agent associated with a decreased risk of cancer in human diabetic patients. In addition to its chemopreventative effects metformin also appears to have anti-neoplastic effects in vitro and in tumor models. While metformin has potential in feline cancer patients there appears to be a risk of developing hyperiactatemia which is a rare adverse effect in humans treated with metformin. The exact mechanisms by which metformin exerts its anti-neoplastic effects remains under investigation and multiple mechanisms have been proposed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of metformin in feline cancer cells on1)secretion of interleukins IL-6 and IL-10 and Stat-3 phosphorylation, 2) secretion of growth factors VEGF and IGF-1,3) secretion of lactate and alteration of pH， and 4) modulation of AMPK phosphorylation.