Metformin transforming into a shield protecting blood cells from cancer.

Metformin and Cancer: Could This Diabetes Drug Be a Game Changer?

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the Surprising Link Between Metformin and Blood Cancer Prevention"

The intersection of cancer, obesity, and type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly clear. As cancer rates rise alongside obesity and diabetes, scientists are working hard to understand the connections between these conditions. This research has led to a fascinating area of study: how treatments for diabetes and obesity might also impact cancer.

While early studies presented conflicting data, more recent meta-analyses have consistently demonstrated a connection between body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM), as well as an increased risk of leukemia in adults. Patients with type 2 diabetes also tend to develop hematological malignancies more frequently. Interestingly, studies have shown that long-term use of metformin, a common diabetes medication, is associated with a reduced incidence of cancer and cancer-related mortality.

This article will delve into the emerging evidence that suggests metformin could be a valuable treatment for hematologic malignancies, and summarize some of the most compelling clinical and preclinical findings.

Diabetes and Cancer: An Unexpected Connection

Metformin transforming into a shield protecting blood cells from cancer.

The idea that diabetes and cancer might be related isn't new; the first report linking the two dates back to 1910. However, it wasn't until over a century later that the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) formally recognized the connection. The key seems to lie in shared risk factors, especially obesity, and interconnected conditions like:

Hyperinsulinemia: Elevated insulin levels, often due to the body's resistance to insulin's effects.
Hyperglycemia: Chronically high blood sugar levels.
Chronic Inflammation: Persistent, low-grade inflammation often linked to excess weight and body fat.

What does BMI has to do with cancer? BMI directly affects the rates and risk of death due to lymphoma and MM and is associate with an increased risk of leukemia in adults.

These factors can trigger a domino effect, activating pathways that promote neoplastic transformation. Obesity, in particular, fuels this process by chronically activating signaling pathways involving insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), leptin, and inflammatory cytokines. These, in turn, stimulate cell surface receptors and signaling cascades like JAK/STAT, MAPK, and PI3K, all of which are often dysregulated in cancer cells.

The Future of Metformin in Cancer Therapy

The increasing rates of diabetes, obesity, and cancer present a significant challenge, requiring a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between these diseases. While epidemiological and preclinical data suggest that metformin offers benefits for some patients with solid and hematological tumors, rigorous clinical trials are essential to identify the specific individuals who will benefit most from metformin combinations. Ultimately, further research is needed to determine if the anticancer effects of metformin depend on metabolic variables, such as diabetes, BMI, insulin resistance, and obesity-related inflammation.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.6061/clinics/2018/e412s, Alternate LINK

Title: Metformin And Blood Cancers

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Clinics

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Ademar Dantas Cunha Júnior, Fernando Vieira Pericole, Jose Barreto Campello Carvalheira

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the connection between diabetes, obesity, and cancer?

The link between diabetes, obesity, and cancer is becoming increasingly evident, as their rates rise together. Shared risk factors, such as obesity, play a key role in this connection. Conditions like Hyperinsulinemia (elevated insulin levels), Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), and Chronic Inflammation are often interconnected and can trigger pathways that promote cancer. For example, obesity fuels cancer by activating signaling pathways involving Insulin, IGF, Leptin, and inflammatory cytokines, which then stimulate cell surface receptors and signaling cascades like JAK/STAT, MAPK, and PI3K, often dysregulated in cancer cells.

How does Metformin work, and what's its potential role in cancer treatment?

Metformin is a common diabetes medication. Research suggests that long-term use of Metformin is associated with a reduced incidence of cancer and cancer-related mortality, specifically in hematological malignancies. The exact mechanisms are still under investigation, but it's believed to be linked to the drug's ability to affect metabolic variables. These include, diabetes, BMI, insulin resistance, and obesity-related inflammation. While Metformin shows promise, more research is needed to determine which patients will benefit most from Metformin combinations and whether its anticancer effects depend on these metabolic factors.

What is BMI and how it is related to the development of blood cancers?

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. Research shows a direct association between BMI and the incidence of blood cancers, like lymphoma, multiple myeloma (MM), and an increased risk of leukemia in adults. Higher BMI values are often linked to obesity, which is a shared risk factor that promotes cancer. The chronic activation of signaling pathways involving Insulin, IGF, Leptin, and inflammatory cytokines due to obesity contribute to the development of these cancers.

What are the main factors that link diabetes and cancer?

The connection between diabetes and cancer involves shared risk factors, particularly obesity, and interconnected conditions. These include Hyperinsulinemia (elevated insulin levels), Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), and Chronic Inflammation. These factors can trigger a domino effect, activating pathways that promote cancer. Obesity, in particular, plays a significant role by activating signaling pathways involving insulin, IGF, Leptin, and inflammatory cytokines, which, in turn, stimulate cell surface receptors and signaling cascades like JAK/STAT, MAPK, and PI3K, all often dysregulated in cancer cells.

What are the next steps in researching Metformin for cancer treatment?

While preclinical and epidemiological data suggest benefits of Metformin for some patients with hematological tumors, more research is crucial. The next steps involve conducting rigorous clinical trials to identify which specific individuals will benefit most from Metformin combinations. Further research is needed to determine if the anticancer effects of Metformin depend on metabolic variables like diabetes, BMI, insulin resistance, and obesity-related inflammation. Ultimately, the goal is to understand the complex interactions between diabetes, obesity, and cancer to improve treatment strategies.