Diabetes drug may improve ovarian cancer survival

MAYO CLINIC The diabetes drug metformin may play a role in longer survival for women with ovarian cancer. Arecent Mayo Clinic study reports that women with ovarian cancer who were taking metformin to manage their diabetes had a better survival rate than did women with ovarian cancer who weren’t taking metformin. In recent years, other studies have suggested metformin may have anti-cancer effects on a number of cancers, including prostate, colon, pancreas and brain cancers.

The Mayo study drew from a data pool of women with ovarian cancer.

Researchers found that 67 per cent of the women who took metformin for diabetes survived after five years compared with 47 per cent survival for those who weren’t taking metformin.

Once other aspects were factored into the report, those who took metformin were nearly three times more likely to survive.

Mayo Clinic researchers say their findings pave the way for further exploration into the use of metformin in the overall treatment of ovarian cancer. For information on ordering the monthly Mayo Clinic Health Letter, please visit www.starstore.ca/mayoclinic