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Figure 1 | BMC Biology

Figure 1

From: Understanding the complex-I-ty of metformin action: limiting mitochondrial respiration to improve cancer therapy

Figure 1

Indirect and direct effects of metformin on tumors. Metformin can suppress tumor progression by modulating metabolic whole body physiology or by acting directly on cancer cells. Metformin diminishes hepatic glucose output leading to lower systemic glucose and insulin levels, which could impair malignant growth indirectly without requiring accumulation of metformin in the tumor. Alternatively, metformin can act on cancer cells directly, inhibiting cancer progression by suppressing mTOR signaling, mitochondrial glucose oxidation, and/or reducing stability of HIF under hypoxic conditions.

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