Metformin administration increases the survival rate of doxorubicin-treated mice

Background: The chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline broadly used to treat different types of cancers, induces several side effects, including cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Metformin (MET) is an antidiabetic drug used as a first-line treatment for type-2 diabetes, and is reported to work against various various drug-induced toxicities. This study aimed to investigate whether the administration of MET prophylactically suppresses DOX-induced toxicity, and prolongs the survival following DOX treatment. Methods: Fifty mice were divided into four groups, and each group received different treatments. The animals in the control group received a single injection of saline. The animals in the DOX group received a single dose of DOX (25 mg/kg). The animals in the MET group received MET on a daily basis. The animals in the DOX+MET group received only a single dose of DOX and daily doses of MET. The animals were observed on a daily basis for determining their body weight and evaluating the survival rate of the four study groups. Results: DOX accelerated the mortality rate of the animals in the DOX-treated group. Co-administration of MET and DOX increased the survival rate of the mice. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the administration of MET can reduce DOX-induced toxicity and increase the survival rate among chemotherapy-treated mice.