INHIBITION OF DMBA-INDUCED CARCINOGENESIS BY PHENFORMIN IN MAMMARY-GLAND OF RATS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 48  (1) , 1-8
Abstract
Daily oral administration of 5-10 mg of an antidiabetic biguanide phenformin (phenethyl-biguanide) for 2.5-5 mo. suppressed DMBA[7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene]-induced mammary tumor development in rats considerably. Phenformin-treated rats revealed a tendency toward a decrease in blood insulin level (radioimmunoassay). The obtained data are regarded as additional evidence for the proposed existence of the same metabolic background of diseases of compensation; i.e., adult-onset diabetes, artherosclerosis and cancer, and suggest studies on the possible antitumor effect of phenformin in man.