A new clinical study found that the well-known diabetes drug metformin may increase in the body a substance that is usually produced during physical activity – and help control weight in prostate cancer patients treated with hormonal therapy.
The study, published in the scientific journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, found that administering metformin significantly increases the levels of the molecule N-lactoyl-phenylalanine (Lac-Phe) – a metabolic substance formed in the body after physical exertion and associated with appetite suppression and weight regulation. According to the researchers, the levels of the substance measured in patients who received metformin were similar to those observed after intense physical activity.
Excess weight is known as a factor that worsens the course of cancer and may reduce the effectiveness of treatments. Although many studies have shown that physical activity and weight control improve treatment outcomes, the biological mechanisms behind the phenomenon are still not fully clear.
Metformin, one of the most common drugs for treating diabetes, improves insulin sensitivity and has been studied in recent years in additional contexts, including metabolic effects in cancer patients.
How the study was conducted
The study included men who are not diabetic but suffer from excess weight and hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The researchers examined blood samples from participants in a clinical trial called BIMET-1.
Some of the patients received hormonal therapy only, while others received a combination of the treatment together with metformin at a dose of 1,000 mg twice a day.
The researchers examined metabolite levels in the blood using advanced laboratory tests, and also checked whether there was an effect on body weight.
The tests showed that among patients who received metformin there was a consistent and significant increase in Lac-Phe levels, regardless of age, body mass index, or stage of the disease.
In addition, it was found that during six months of treatment, patients who received metformin tended to maintain a stable weight or even lose weight, while in the control group there tended to be weight gain – a common phenomenon during hormonal therapy.
The metabolite Lac-Phe was found to be more strongly associated with weight control than any other biological factor examined in the study, although the researchers emphasize that it is still not possible to determine a clear causal relationship.
Possible implications for the treatment of cancer patients
The researchers note that the increase in this molecule may explain some of the metabolic benefits of metformin. In addition, it is possible that the drug is able to mimic some of the biological effects of physical activity.
The significance may be especially important for patients who have difficulty performing physical activity due to their medical condition.
However, the researchers emphasize that larger and more diverse studies are required to understand whether this effect can also improve cancer treatment outcomes in the long term.
Source:
www.jpost.com
