Metformin sensitises osteosarcoma to chemotherapy <em>via</em> the IGF-1R/miR-610/FEN1 pathway

Eur J Histochem. 2023 May 17;67(2):3612. doi: 10.4081/ejh.2023.3612.

Abstract

Metformin can enhance cancer cell chemosensitivity to anticancer drugs. IGF-1R is involved in cancer chemoresistance. The current study aimed to elucidate the role of metformin in osteosarcoma (OS) cell chemosensitivity modulation and identify its underlying mechanism in IGF-1R/miR-610/FEN1 signalling. IGF-1R, miR-610, and FEN1 were aberrantly expressed in OS and participated in apoptosis modulation; this effect was abated by metformin treatment. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that FEN1 is a direct target of miR-610. Moreover, metformin treatment decreased IGF-1R and FEN1 but elevated miR-610 expression. Metformin sensitised OS cells to cytotoxic agents, while FEN1 overexpression partly compromised metformin's sensitising effects. Furthermore, metformin was observed to enhance adriamycin's effects in a murine xenograft model. Metformin enhanced OS cell sensitivity to cytotoxic agents via the IGF-1R/miR-610/FEN1 signalling axis, highlighting its potential as an adjuvant during chemotherapy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytotoxins / pharmacology
  • Flap Endonucleases
  • Humans
  • Metformin* / pharmacology
  • Metformin* / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma* / drug therapy

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Metformin
  • Cytotoxins
  • FEN1 protein, human
  • Flap Endonucleases
  • MIRN610 microRNA, human