Metformin, a drug widely used to treat diabetes, known to help fight cancer. But a new study found no effect of metformin against cancer in elderly diabetics patients.
Study author Dr. Iliana Lega noted, previous studies found that metformin is associated with a 30 percent decrease in the formation of new cancer cells in patients without diabetes. The study also linked the use of metformin drugs in slowing tumor growth.
"Metformin is a drug commonly used in diabetic patients to control sugar levels in their blood. Though there are studies that say metformin has effects against cancer cells, but our study found the drug does not affect the case for patients with diabetes," said researchers from the Women's College Hospital Toronto.
The study involved more than 2,300 women aged 66 years or older. The participants all have diabetes and regularly taking metformin. They are diagnosed with breast cancer in the years between 1997 and 2008. They were followed from the beginning diagnosed until death or until the beginning of 2010.
The study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, said, there was no significant relationship reduction in deaths from breast cancer in those taking metformin.
Relieved and his team said further research will focus on breast cancer and diabetes patients aged younger.
"Over understand the effect of metformin on breast cancer is important in determining the appropriate treatment in patients with and without diabetes," said Lega.