# Metformin Renders Survival Advantage to Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme

## TL;DR

This study finds that metformin may improve survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme, a deadly brain cancer.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is evidence that metformin, a common diabetes drug, may offer a survival benefit for glioblastoma patients.

## Key findings

- Metformin use was associated with increased median overall survival of up to 18 months in GBM patients.
- The survival advantage was statistically significant compared to controls (p = 0.00197).

## Abstract

Purpose: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive cancer with limited survival despite current treatments. Rising treatment costs highlight the importance of identifying more affordable therapeutic alternatives. A body of literature has shown that metformin has the potential to act as an antineoplastic agent. Here, we examined the effects of metformin on GBM in humans. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to perform the review. A total of 469 studies were screened using comprehensive search terms. Of these, 4 studies were compatible for the meta-analysis. Results: Data analysis demonstrated an increase in median overall survival for GBM patients up to 18 months compared to controls (p = 0.00197). Conclusions: Overall, our findings support the efficacy of metformin as an anti-neoplastic agent, and that it may grant a survival advantage for patients diagnosed with GBM. Further analyses should find dose-dependent relationships between metformin and the targeted survival outcomes in larger, rigorous clinical trials.