A diabetes medication that costs only 35p per pill could help prevent an aggressive form of blood cancer, according to researchers from the University of Cambridge.
Scientists have discovered that metformin helps prevent acute myeloid leukemia (LMA), deadly blood cancer that kills about four out of five patients within five years of diagnosis.
Their research has concentrated on a mutation in a gene called DNMT3A – considered responsible for up to one in six LMA.
Metformin is supposed to inhibit the growth of cancer cells with this defective gene.
And although those who have an increased risk can be identified by genetic screening, there is currently no treatment to prevent the disease from developing.
Some 3.6 million patients were prescribed antidiabetic drugs such as metformin in 2023/24
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Laboratory experiments on mice showed that the drug slowed down the growth of defective blood cells, with other tests on the human fabric offering the same result.
The researchers then examined the health files of more than 400,000 people.
They found that those who took metformin were less likely to have changes in their DNMT3A gene, which supports their results.
Their results, published in the journal Nature, now offer hope for low -cost preventive treatment.
Professor George Vassiliou, a blood health expert from Cambridge and author of the study, said: “Blood cancer poses unique challenges compared to solid cancers such as breast or prostate, which can be removed surgically if it is identified early.
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Laboratory experiences on mice showed that the drug slowed down the growth of defective blood cells – with other tests on the human fabric offering the same result
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“With blood cancers, we have to identify people at risk, then use medical treatments to stop the progression of cancer throughout the body.”
Dr. Rubina Ahmed, director of research at Blood Cancer UK, who financed the work, highlighted the potential advantages of the use of existing drugs.
“The reuse of safe and widely available drugs as metformin means that we could potentially get new treatments to people faster, without the need for a long drug development pipeline,” she said.
About 3,100 people receive a diagnosis of LMA each year in the United Kingdom.
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Scientists have discovered that metformin helps prevent acute myeloid leukemia (LMA), deadly blood cancer that kills about four out of five years in five years
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Symptoms include fatigue, high temperature, repeated infections, bruising, easily bleeding, shortness of breath, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, bone pain, stomach pain and relatives – but currently, the treatment consists mainly of chemotherapy.
Researchers are already preparing clinical trials on patients identified as having changes in DNMT3A genes which increase their risk of LMA.
The latest NHS data show that around 3.6 million patients have been prescribed anti -Diabetic drugs such as metformin in 2023/24.
In England last year, 26 million Metformin prescriptions were published at a cost of 82 million pounds sterling, working at around 35p per pill.
Metformin is generally considered a standard tablet up to four times a day or as a stronger slow liberation tablet.
It helps diabetic patients by improving how the body manages insulin, controlling high blood sugar.