Enhancement of Radiation Response Associated With Metformin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Preclinical Animal and Clinical Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM:This study examined whether metformin can enhance the radiation response in a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft mice model and patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Huh-7 human HCC-bearing xenograft mice were treated with gamma-ray, metformin, neutron therapy, and their combinations. Tumour growth and lung colonies were assessed. Overall, 145 patients who underwent radiotherapy for HCC were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS:The combinations of gamma-ray and metformin and neutron radiation and metformin inhibited tumour growth and metastatic lung nodule formation when compared to the monotherapy and gamma-ray groups, respectively. In patients who received radiotherapy for HCC, the overall survival rate was higher in the metformin-treated group than in the non-metformin group. CONCLUSION:Metformin inhibited tumour growth and metastasis in HCC by enhancing the radiation response in animal experiments. Additionally, metformin was also found to be associated with a higher survival outcome in patients with HCC.