Metformin preferentially enhances the radio-sensitivity of cancer stem-like cells with highly mitochondrial respiration ability in HMPOS.

Metformin has many anti-cancer effects, alone or in combination with radiation. However, the mechanism underlying its radio-sensitized effect is still unclear, especially for cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). Here, the radio-sensitized effect of metformin was investigated, and its mechanism was revealed in CSCs derived from canine osteosarcoma cell line (HMPOS), a canine osteosarcoma cell line.