Chemoprevention of Gastric Cancer: Metformin

Kim, Young Il; Cho, Soo Jeong

doi:2017.17.4.179

Korean J Helicobacter Up Gastrointest Res > Volume 17(4); 2017 > Article

Review

The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2017;17(4):179-184.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7704/kjhugr.2017.17.4.179 Published online December 10, 2017.

Chemoprevention of Gastric Cancer: Metformin

Young Il Kim, Soo Jeong Cho

Center for Gastric Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea. crystal522@ncc.re.kr

위암의 화학 예방 요법: 메트포르민

김영일, 조수정

국립암센터 위암센터

Received: 10 October 2017 • Revised: 8 November 2017 • Accepted: 9 November 2017

Abstract

Metformin is a first-line anti-diabetic drug that has been widely used in patients with type 2 diabetes. Many population-based epidemiologic studies have shown that metformin treatment is associated with decreased risk for various cancers. Recent epidemiologic studies showed that the use of metformin was associated with a reduction in gastric cancer risk, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes who used metformin for long periods of time (>2~3 years). Currently, there are no registered clinical trials investigating the anti-cancer effect of metformin in gastric cancer; hence, further well-designed clinical trials are required. Herein, we review the literature regarding the use of metformin for the prevention of gastric cancer.

Key Words: Chemoprevention; Metformin; Stomach neoplasms