A new study has revealed that a medication commonly used by millions of people with type 2 diabetes may also have the ability to fight lung cancer.
According to a team of researchers led by Dr. Sai Endamuri at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, the study found that metformin, a diabetes drug, helps enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy drugs used to fight lung tumors.
However, the study’s results also present a significant issue.
Dr. Sai explained that the cancer-fighting effects of metformin are only activated in individuals who are obese. The research showed that overweight individuals who took metformin and underwent surgery had a lower risk of cancer recurrence for a longer period.
It’s important to note that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 235,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year, and over 125,000 people die from it annually.
This research was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
