The Role of PI3K and Wntsignaling Pathways and CSC Markers in Melanoma (B16F10) Therapy

Abstract

Background Metformin has been the subject of recent studies aimed at the treatment of melanoma cancer. In this study, the anti-cancer effects of metformin, an antidiabetic drug, was investigated in-vitrousing the B16F10 melanoma cell line. Methods Melanoma cells were treated for 24 h with various concentrations of metformin, alone or incombination withdacarbazine. The effects of these two treatment agents on cell viability were evaluated by MTT assay. In addition, stemness and the activation of specific signaling pathways were evaluated by FACS and immunoblotting. Results Metformin induced β-catenin phosphorylation and decreasedmTOR and PARP expressions. Also, a normal dose of metformin was found toreducethe phosphorylation levels of4E-BP1, AKT, and S6rp.In this study, we evaluated the potential of metformin as a therapeutic agent against CSCs in the adjuvant setting. Conclusion Our data indicate that some transcriptional regulators and proteins in the above-mentioned pathwayswere associated with cancer progression and inhibited by adjuvant chemotherapy with metformin.Metformin significantly inhibited cell growth and proliferation pathways, including Wnt and PI3K/AKT/mTOR. These findings show the potential of metformin in cancer treatment.