Dataset related to article: "A novel insight into the anticancer mechanism of metformin in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cells"

This record contains data related to article: "A novel insight into the anticancer mechanism of metformin in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cells."

The antidiabetic drug metformin displays anticancer properties in several neoplasms. In pituitary NETs, aryl

hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) is up-regulated by the somatostatin analog octreotide.

Metformin inhibited QGP-1 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, at concentrations similar

to those achievable in treated patients (−31 ± 12%, p < 0.05 vs basal at 100 μM). Moreover, metformin

decreased pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PAN-NETs) cell proliferation (−62 ± 15%, p < 0.0001 vs basal

at 10 mM), without any additive effect when combined with octreotide. Both octreotide and metformin induced

AIP up-regulation. AIP silencing abolished the reduction of mTOR phosphorylation induced by metformin and

octreotide. Moreover, metformin decreased HSP70, increased Zac1 and AhR expression; these effects were

abolished in AIP silenced QGP-1 cells.

In conclusion, metformin acts as an anticancer agent in PAN-NET cells, its activity is mediated by AIP and its

interacting proteins. These findings provide a novel insight into the antitumorigenic mechanism of metformin.