BIOLOGY EPORTFOLIO

Summary: Metformin is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It treats diabetes by

lowering blood glucose levels and reduces insulin resistance for those who are taking it. Recent

population studies led scientist to believe it not only treats diabetes but also reduces incidences

of cancer and is associated with improved prognosis of certain cancers. Metformin stimulates

growth of normal and transformed cells but acts as a growth inhibitor of epithelial cells (where

most cancers start). I chose this article because my grandma is taking Metformin and I know

from when I was in the underwriting department at my work (an insurance company) that

many people take Metformin. Currently I process insurance claims, some of our policies are

specifically for the treatment of cancer so this also led to my interest in this article.

The recent population studies observed by scientist led them to believe that Metformin is

linked to reduced cancer risks and improved cancer prognosis by affecting the AMP Kinase

Pathways. This article seeks to prove Metformin’s link to reductions of cancer occurrences and

improved prognosis of cancer.

In order to prove this the scientist gathered cultures of breast cancers cells and let them sit for

24 hours. They then added the Metformin in various doses to see its effects on the cells

proliferation and incubated the cells for 72 hours. Using a blue dye they tracked the growth of

the cancer cells during this 72 hours. To further their expiremement and knowledge they

interfered with the AMP pathways in some cells with siRNA which stops the AMP Kinase from

being produced.
They then examined the the results which showed the cells with Metformin did not proliferate/

were inhibited. Also, they noted the cells that did not produce AMP Kinase due to the siRNA did

proliferate.

They concluded that Metformin can improve cancer prognosis and occurrences and that their

original hypothesis was true.