ArticleJournal of biomedical science2025
Metformin sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer to histone deacetylase inhibitors by targeting FGFR4.
Article in Journal of biomedical science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Metformin sensitizes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-mediated cytotoxicity by upregulating BTN3A1 and BTN2A1.Cell death & disease · 2026Article
- A Curcumin-Derived HSP70 Inhibitor Disrupts Lysosomal Function to Suppress Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression.Cell proliferation · 2026Article
- Metformin drives HIF-1α-mediated dual metabolic reprogramming to enhance γδ T cell therapy in triple-negative breast cancer.Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII · 2026Article
- Activation of endogenous retroviruses in tumor cells and their immunomodulatory mechanisms: from molecular basis to clinical translation.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Review
- Selegiline, a monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor as a modulator of metabolic reprogramming for cancer therapy: a review.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Review
- Epigenetic Regulation of Autophagy in Breast Cancer: Implications for Biomarker Discovery and Personalized Therapy.Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2025Review
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16 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by high malignancy, strong invasiveness, and a propensity for distant metastasis, leading to poor prognosis and relatively limited treatment options. Metformin, as a first-line oral hypoglycemic agent, has garnered widespread research interest in recent years due to its potential in cancer prevention and treatment. However, its efficacy varies significantly across different tumor types. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), such as SAHA, have demonstrated antitumor activity, but TNBC responds poorly to HDACi monotherapy, possibly due to feedback activation of the JAK-STAT pathway. Exploring the synergistic potential and underlying mechanisms of combining metformin with HDACi in TNBC treatment is crucial.
methodsWe predicted the synergistic effects of metformin and SAHA in TNBC using multiple computational methods (CMap, DTsyn, and DrugComb). We also developed a cancer-specific compound mimic library (CDTSL) and applied a three-step strategy to identify genes fitting the "metformin sensitization" model. Subsequently, we evaluated the synergistic effects of metformin and SAHA in TNBC cell lines through cell proliferation, colony formation, and apoptosis assays. Furthermore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of the combined treatment using techniques such as transcriptome sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), Western blotting, and measurement of extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). Additionally, we assessed the in vivo antitumor effects of the combined therapy in a nude mouse subcutaneous xenograft model.
resultsCMap, DTsyn, and DrugComb all predicted the synergistic effects of SAHA and metformin in TNBC. The screening results revealed that HDAC10 played a key role in metformin sensitization. We found that the combination of metformin and SAHA exhibited synergistic antitumor effects (combination index CI < 0.9) in TNBC cell lines. Mechanistically, metformin inhibited histone acetylation on FGFR4, thereby blocking the feedback activation of FGFR4 downstream pathways induced by SAHA. Furthermore, metformin interfered with the glycolysis process induced by SAHA, altering the metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells. In in vivo experiments, the combined treatment of metformin and SAHA significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice.
conclusionsMetformin enhances the sensitivity of TNBC to HDAC inhibitors by blocking the FGFR4 pathway and interfering with metabolic reprogramming. When used in combination with SAHA, metformin exhibits synergistic antitumor effects. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the combined application of HDAC inhibitors and metformin, potentially offering a new strategy for the treatment of TNBC.
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