METFORMIN - Better PC outcomes w/metformin

FYI on Metformin:


http://www.curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/news.showNewsArticle/id/13/news_id/3619


The overall cohort included 319 men with diabetes, 157 of whom were taking metformin. The median duration of metformin use was 58.2 months, and the median dose was 500 mg twice daily.

As reported December 13 online in European Urology, the 10-year actuarial biochemical recurrence-free survival rate was significantly better in diabetics on metformin (67.3%) than in diabetics not receiving metformin (55.7%; p=0.004). The difference between the metformin-treated men and the nondiabetics was nearly significant (65.5%; p=0.07).

Distant metastases were significantly less common in metformin patients (5.7%) than non-metformin diabetics (24.1%) or nondiabetics (11.5%).

In addition, the 10-year prostate cancer specific mortality was significantly lower in metformin patients (2.7%) than in non- metformin diabetics (21.9%) or nondiabetics (8.2%; p<0.001). The benefit of metformin persisted in subgroup analysis of men with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk prostate cancer.

Compared with the metformin group, overall survival was nonsignificantly worse in the nondiabetics but significantly worse in the diabetic non-metformin group.

Diabetics who weren't receiving metformin had a 14.81-fold increased risk of castration-resistant prostate cancer, and nondiabetics had an 8.88-fold increased risk, compared with metformin patients.

Several years ago, researchers in Finland suggested that antidiabetic drugs in general may be associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer and advanced prostate cancer (see Reuters Health story of Nov 18, 2008). In this new study, however, none of the other diabetic medications (sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, meglitinides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide agonists, and insulin) had a significant impact on any outcome.

"Our study demonstrates that in a multivariate analysis the use of metformin improved all survival endpoints among patients with prostate cancer who were treated with radiotherapy," Dr. Zelefsky said. "And most interestingly, among the users there was a reduction or delay in the development of castrate resistant disease. These findings are all hypothesis-generating and will hopefully spur on other studies to explore these issues further."

There is more compelling literature for metformin, statins (Zocor, Lipitor, Crestor) and celebrex for prostate cancer than for the supplements we often hear about (including resveratrol, curcumin, vitamin D, lycopene).  I am not against these supplements but do not believe the literature is very conclusive either way.

Thanks

Paul

Robert,

My oncologist keeps tabs of my glucose, etc and even though I' m not diabetic he prescribed Metformin.

Might slow the aging process as well. I'm telling you....I feel like I'm 47.

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/how-common-diabetes-drug-could-slow-cancer-and-aging-studied

I have been a type 2 for 10 years and on metformin and glipicide. On lupron my appetite is 0 and heavy direah, but I been watching my sugar and it is staying down like 140 after eats. and 110 fasting.
so being a Gleason 9 my hope is for a long term thing, and this is good news. I aslo know that various thins feed pc one is beef and the other is excess sugar. so lets keep an eye on these studies so we can enjoy life around the planet longer!

I just thought I would share. I was on metformin for diabetes long before being diagnosed with prostate cancer, was also on it with cancer and it didn't keep me from getting cancer. Just thought I would let you know my experience.