Dear Docs & Friends of Bio Science,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4469409.stm
Diabetes drug 'may stop cancers'



Metformin is currently licensed for treating diabetes
A drug commonly used to treat Type 2 diabetes may prevent cancer,
researchers have said.
The team studied cancer rates among 6,000 people with diabetes and found
those who took metformin cut their risk of all tumour types by more than 25%. A
larger study to verify the University of Dundee team's findings, published
online at bmj.com, will begin soon. Ultimately, metformin might be used as an
anti-cancer drug, the researchers said at Diabetes UK's annual meeting.

'Fewer cancers' Professor Dario Alessi and colleagues looked at the rates
of cancers recorded among about 6,000 people with diabetes, half of whom were
taking metformin and half of whom were not.

If the trials confirm our findings, metformin could be used for
cancer within a year or so

Professor Dario Alessi

They found the metformin group had far fewer cancers than the other group
- in the order of 20-40%. They believe that the drug protects against cancer by
switching on an enzyme in the body called AMPK. This enzyme tricks cancer cells
into thinking that they have insufficient sources of energy to grow. Professor
Andrew Morris said: "Metformin has been used to treat people with Type 2
diabetes in the United Kingdom since 1957.

"Despite being the most widely used drug for people with the condition, it
is only recently that we have learnt how it works. The possibility that it may
have beneficial effects beyond diabetes control is very exciting indeed."
Professor Alessi said that because the drug was already on the market it could
cut out 10-15 years of testing that is usually associated with medical
breakthroughs before a drug becomes available.

Future hope

"If the trials confirm our findings, metformin could be used for cancer
within a year or so. "One needs to do many more clinical investigations, but it
might be useful for people who have already had tumours removed, such as breast
or colon cancers, to stop cancer recurring." He said that although the drug, by
its nature as a diabetes medication, lowers blood sugar, this might not be too
much of a problem to people without diabetes.

"It's a remarkably well tolerated drug," he said. Amanda Vezey, care
advisor at Diabetes UK, said: "This is a very interesting study undertaken by
researchers well known in the field of diabetes. "However, it is in its very
early stages and we would need to wait for the results of the larger scale study
before we can draw any firm conclusions. "We'll be following the progress of the
next study with interest."

Professor John Toy, Medical Director at Cancer Research UK, said: "This is
a very interesting early finding, but as the authors themselves say, further
work is needed to confirm whether this is correct or not. "We know that
metformin affects the levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Cancer
Research UK scientists are working on this area as high levels of IGF-1 appear
to confirm an increased risk of certain cancers including prostate, colon and
breast."



With Compliments from: Dr. BHUDIA : Science Group Of INDIA.
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/venustransit_2004/
President:"Kutch Science Foundation".
Founder :"Kutch Amateurs Astronomers Club - Bhuj - Kutch".
Life Member:"kutch Itihaas Parishad".
kutchscience@..., kutchscience@...,
http://uk.geocities.com/wildlifeofkutch/
http://www.geocities.com/kutchscience
http://profiles.yahoo.com/kutchscience2000
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/scienceclubofindia
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/kutchscience
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/kachchh
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/bhuj

Feel free to visit our ABOVE Clubs/Groups of Science club of India, Science
Group of India



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]