Insights on metabolic connections and interplay between cancer and diabetes: role of multi-target drugs

Cancer is recognized as a leading cause of death globally, imposing significant health burdens. Traditional cancer treatments encompass chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy employs cytotoxic chemicals either alone or in combination. However, these therapies can adversely affect normal cells and are hindered by drug resistance. Exploration of alternative therapeutic approaches such as use of antidiabetic drugs for cancer treatment to rule out challenges in current therapy is much needed. Antidiabetic medications like sulfonylureas, biguanides, and thiazolidinediones have demonstrated beneficial effects and are being repurposed for cancer management. The review discusses mechanisms underlying their anticancer properties linked to metabolic factors common to both diseases, including hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, and obesity. Nevertheless, certain antidiabetic drugs may pose risks for developing cancer, particularly pancreatic cancer. Despite the concerns, the overall beneficial impact of these agents in cancer treatment outweighs their potential drawbacks. The review highlights the metabolic connections between cancer and diabetes, as well as the mechanistic actions of antidiabetic drugs on cancer.