Metformin against prostate cancer

Metforminwhich is a drug indicated for diabetes, could replicate the benefits of physical exercise in the treatment of prostate cancer, as confirmed by a study carried out by a team of researchers from the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine of the American University of Miami, as reported by Europa Press.

The experts at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is part of this academic organization, This drug could mimic one of the main biological effects of exercise in men with this oncological disease, raising the levels of a molecule related to energy balance and weight controleven when patients are inactive.

Therefore, according to this work published in the specialized magazine EMBO Molecular Medicinemetformin could help counteract the metabolic stress of hormone therapy, when fatigue and other side effects often limit physical activity, which is one of the most reliable ways to maintain health during cancer treatment.

Exercise Helps Regulate Weight, Blood Sugar, and Cardiovascular Healthfactors that influence how patients feel during therapy and their subsequent recovery. However, for many people with cancer, doing it regularly is not always feasible, as fatigue, hormone therapy, pain, and advanced disease can limit it precisely when metabolic health becomes more important.

“This study reflects what is possible when laboratory science, metabolic biology and clinical research are intentionally combined to conduct transdisciplinary studies,” said Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher and first author of this study, Dr. Marijo Bilusic.

Nevertheless, this finding does not suggest that a pill can replace physical activitybut it does offer insight into the internal pathways underlying the metabolic benefits of exercise and how these might continue to be activated when movement is limited. “The result is not a new cancer biomarker, but a clearer understanding of how a commonly used drug can support metabolic health during prostate cancer treatment”he clarified.

N-Lactoyl-Phenylalanine

As to the molecule related to energy balance and weight control, researchers have indicated that this is N-lactoyl-phenylalanine. In preclinical studies and in the early phases of human research, higher levels of it have been observed to be associated with reduced appetite and improved weight control, two effects commonly linked to regular physical activity.

However, they have discovered that the levels of this molecule are elevated in people taking metformin, even in the absence of physical activity. “For patients whose treatments or symptoms limit physical activity, that type of effect could be especially significant”highlighted Bilusic, while the researcher at the same center, Dr. Priyamvada Rai, stated that “promoting metabolic health can influence patients’ tolerance to the treatment and their well-being over time.”

“What is encouraging about this work is that it reminds us that oncological care is not just about attacking tumors, but also about providing comprehensive support to the patient,” the latter continued, concluding by highlighting that, “by better understanding how treatments affect metabolism,” we can “begin to identify ways to help patients maintain their strength, resilience, and quality of life throughout their treatment.”