Metformin may strengthen the effects of immunotherapy and improve recurrence-free survival in patients with lung cancer with overweight or obesity, according to a recently published article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.1
The investigators looked at data from two groups of patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They documented metformin’s effects on tumor progression, antitumor immunity, and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in the lab in preclinical lung cancer models. Combined treatment with metformin plus an immune checkpoint inhibitor achieved even better tumor growth control—but this effect was essentially seen only in models with obesity, paralleling the improved progression-free survival seen only in patients with overweight who received immune checkpoint inhibitors.
DISCLOSURE: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit academic.oup.com.
REFERENCE
1. Smith RJ Jr, et al: Obesity-specific improvement of lung cancer outcomes and immunotherapy efficacy with metformin. J Natl Cancer Inst. November 19, 2024 (early release online).
