Journal article
Another Surprise from Metformin: Novel Mechanism of Action via K-Ras Influences Endometrial Cancer Response to Therapy
Molecular cancer therapeutics, Vol.12(12), pp.2847-2856
12/01/2013
DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-13-0439
PMCID: PMC3883498
PMID: 24077915
Abstract
Metformin is an oral biguanide commonly used for the treatment of type II diabetes and has recently been demonstrated to possess antiproliferative properties that can be exploited for the prevention and treatment of a variety of cancers. The mechanisms underlying this effect have not been fully elucidated. Using both in vitro and in vivo models, we examined the effects of metformin on endometrial tumors with defined aberrations in the PI3K/PTEN/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways to understand metformin mechanism of action and identify clinically useful predictors of response to this agent. In vitro assays of proliferation, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis were used to quantify the effects of metformin on endometrial cancer cell lines with mutations in the PI3K/PTEN/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. The in vivo effects of oral metformin on tumor progression were further examined using xenograft mouse models of endometrial cancer. K-Ras localization was analyzed by confocal microscopy using GFP-labeled oncogenic K-Ras and by immunoblot following subcellular fractionation. Metformin inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and decreased tumor growth in preclinical endometrial cancer models, with the greatest response observed in cells harboring activating mutations in K-Ras. Furthermore, metformin displaces constitutively active K-Ras from the cell membrane, causing uncoupling of the MAPK signaling pathway. These studies provide a rationale for clinical trials using metformin in combination with PI3K-targeted agents for tumors harboring activating K-Ras mutations, and reveal a novel mechanism of action for metformin. (C)2013 AACR.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Another Surprise from Metformin: Novel Mechanism of Action via K-Ras Influences Endometrial Cancer Response to Therapy
- Creators
- David A. Iglesias - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonMelinda S. Yates - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterDharini van der Hoeven - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTravis L. Rodkey - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterQian Zhang - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterNgai Na Co - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonJennifer Burzawa - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonSravanthi Chigurupati - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonJoseph Celestino - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonJessica Bowser - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonRussell Broaddus - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonJohn F. Hancock - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterRosemarie Schmandt - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterKaren H. Lu - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Molecular cancer therapeutics, Vol.12(12), pp.2847-2856
- DOI
- 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-13-0439
- PMID
- 24077915
- PMCID
- PMC3883498
- NLM abbreviation
- Mol Cancer Ther
- ISSN
- 1535-7163
- eISSN
- 1538-8514
- Publisher
- Amer Assoc Cancer Research
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- RP100483 / Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas P50CA098258 / National Institutes of Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA T32 CA101642 / National Research Service Award; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA CA016672 / MD Anderson's Cancer Center Support
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2013
- Academic Unit
- Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine; Dentistry Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9985157464402771
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