Therapeutic potential of an anti-diabetic drug, metformin: alteration of miRNA expression in prostate cancer cells.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males in many populations. Metformin is the most widely used anti-diabetic drug in the world, and there is increasing evidence of a potential efficacy of this agent as an anti-cancer drug. Metformin inhibits the proliferation of a range of cancer cells including prostate, colon, breast, ovarian, and glioma lines. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, non- coding, single-stranded RNAs that downregulate gene expression. We aimed to evaluate the effects of metformin treatment on changes in miRNA expression in PC-3 cells, and possible associations with biological behaviour.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Average cell viability and cytotoxic effects of metformin were investigated at 24 hour intervals for three days using the xCELLigence system. The IC50 dose of metformin in the PC-3 cells was found to be 5 mM. RNA samples were used for analysis using custom multi-species microarrays containing 1209 probes covering 1221 human mature microRNAs present in miRBase 16.0 database.

RESULTS:

Among the human miRNAs investigated by the arrays, 10 miRNAs were up-regulated and 12 miRNAs were down-regulated in the metformin-treated group as compared to the control group. In conclusion, expression changes in miRNAs of miR-146a, miR-100, miR-425, miR-193a-3p and, miR-106b in metformin-treated cells may be important. This study may emphasize a new role of metformin on the regulation of miRNAs in prostate cancer.

• Authors: Cigir Biray Avci, Ece Harman, Yavuz Dodurga, Sunde Yilmaz Susluer, Cumhur Gunduz
• Journal: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP (Asian Pac J Cancer Prev) Vol. 14 Issue 2 Pg. 765-8 ( 2013) ISSN: 2476-762X [Electronic] Thailand
• PMID: 23621234 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Hypoglycemic Agents
• MIRN100 microRNA, human
• MIRN106 microRNA, human
• MIRN146 microRNA, human
• MIRN193 microRNA, human
• MIRN425 microRNA, human
• MicroRNAs
• Metformin

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Down-Regulation (drug effects)
• Gene Expression (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
• Humans
• Hypoglycemic Agents (pharmacology)
• Male
• Metformin (pharmacology)
• MicroRNAs (biosynthesis, drug effects, genetics)
• Prostatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)