Anticancer effects of metformin on neuroendocrine tumor cells in vitro

In 2014, a study was conducted to investigate the anticancer effects of metformin, a common antidiabetic drug, on neuroendocrine tumor cells. The researchers treated three types of human neuroendocrine tumor cells (pancreatic BON1, bronchopulmonary NCI-H727, and midgut GOT1) with metformin, observing a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. Metformin's effects on AMPK phosphorylation varied among the cell types, suggesting both AMPK-dependent and independent properties. Metformin also suppressed mTORC1 signaling in all three cell types, with compensatory AKT activity. The study concluded that metformin could potentially be used as a therapeutic for patients with neuroendocrine tumors.