Rosiglitazone inhibits metastasis development of a murine mammary tumor cell line LMM3.

Background: Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPARgamma) induces diverse effects on cancer cells. The thiazolidinediones (TZDs), such as troglitazone and ciglitazone, are PPARgamma agonists exhibiting antitumor activities; however, the underlying mechanism remains inconclusive. Rosiglitazone (RGZ), a synthetic ligand of PPARgamma used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, inhibits growth of some tumor cells and is involved in other processes related to cancer progression.