Review Metformin: risk-benefit profile with a focus on cancer

abstract

Areas covered: The present review focuses on epidemiological data and clinical trials testing the efficacy of metformin on cancer, the safety in nondiabetic patients and the future development of this promising drug.

Expert opinion: Meta-analyses of epidemiological in which metformin treatment has been used for diabetic patients show a positive trend for benefit; nevertheless, clinical data outcomes are preliminary and the results of ongoing trials are awaited. The different types of cancer, heterogeneity of populations and presence of comorbidity make it difficult to determine the benefits of metformin in cancer prevention and treatment.