The relationship between metformin exposure, prostate cancer and race/ethnicity

• Author / Creator

  Chen, Christopher B

• Relative to those without diabetes, individuals with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of several cancers, but a decreased risk of prostate cancer. While metformin may reduce the risk of some cancers, it may not reduce the risk of prostate cancer. However, race/ethnicity may modify metformin’s effect. Thus, our objective was to investigate the impact of metformin exposure on prostate cancer risk in Western and Asian populations by conducting two studies: 1) a systematic review of published literature and 2) an retrospective cohort study. In our literature review, metformin was not associated with prostate cancer in either population. However, this study was limited by significant heterogeneity across published studies. Despite less heterogeneity, our cohort study further suggested that there is no relationship between metformin exposure, prostate cancer and race/ethnicity.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Metformin
  • Prostate cancer

• Graduation date

  Fall 2016

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3VQ2SM82

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.