Metformin könnte die Vorteile von Bewegung in der Behandlung von Prostatakrebs widerspiegeln. Metformin, ein Diabetes-Medikament, kann eine der wichtigsten biologischen Wirkungen körperlicher Betätigung bei Männern mit Prostatakrebs nachahmen, indem es den Spiegel eines Moleküls erhöht, das mit dem Energiehaushalt und der Gewichtskontrolle verbunden ist, selbst wenn die Patienten inaktiv sind.

Study: Diabetes drug, metformin, may echo the benefits of exercise in prostate cancer care

A new study has found that metformin, a widely prescribed diabetes drug, may mimic one of exercise’s core biological effects in men with prostate cancer, raising levels of a molecule tied to energy balance and weight control even when patients are inactive. The findings suggest metformin could help counter the metabolic strain of hormone therapy, when fatigue and other side effects often limit physical activity.

Led by physician-scientists at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the study appears in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.

Exercise is one of the most reliable ways to support health during cancer treatment. It helps regulate weight, blood sugar and cardiovascular health—factors that shape how patients feel during therapy and how well they recover afterward.

For many people with cancer, however, regular exercise isn’t always feasible. Fatigue, hormone therapy, pain or advanced disease can limit physical activity precisely when metabolic health becomes most important.

That reality has led researchers to ask a practical question: if exercise confers its benefits through specific biological signals, could some of those signals be activated in other ways?

According to the research, the answer may be yes. Sylvester investigators report that metformin raises levels of a naturally occurring molecule involved in how the body manages energy and weight in prostate cancer patients.

For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s44321-026-00408-6