Long-term use of metformin and the molecular subtype in invasive breast carcinoma patients - a retrospective study of clinical and tumor characteristics.

Background: Metformin may exhibit inhibitory effects on cancer cells by inhibiting mTOR signaling pathway. The aim of our retrospective study was to examine if patients with breast carcinoma (BC) and diabetes mellitus (DM) receiving metformin have a lower stage of carcinoma in comparison to patients not receiving metformin, and if the use of metformin correlates with the molecular subtype of BC.

Methods: A chart review of 253 patients with invasive BC and DM (128 on metformin and 125 not on metformin) was performed.

Insulin glargine versus other types of basal insulin-clinical and tumor characteristics in patients with breast carcinoma.

Background: Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that some insulin analogues could be associated with an increased risk of cancer. The aim of this retrospective study was to examine whether patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) using insulin glargine have a higher tumor stage of breast carcinoma in comparison to patients using other types of insulin.

Methods: We performed a chart review of 79 surgically treated breast carcinoma patients (mean age of 66.