Repurposing antidiabetic medications for cervical cancer therapy: a preclinical comparison of teneligliptin, rosiglitazone, and metformin

Obaid, Rawaa Mohammed

doi:10.37652/juaps.2025.163056.1546

	Repurposing antidiabetic medications for cervical cancer therapy: a preclinical comparison of teneligliptin, rosiglitazone, and metformin
Journal of University of Anbar for Pure Science
Volume 20, Issue 2, August 2026, Pages 55-64 PDF (734.78 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.37652/juaps.2025.163056.1546
Author
Rawaa Mohammed Obaid^*
Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science, Tikrit University, Tikrit, Iraq
Abstract
Repurposing existing medications is a valuable strategy for identifying new anticancer agents. Antidiabetic medications may exhibit promising anticancer properties. This study explored the anticancer properties of three antidiabetic medications, teneligliptin, metformin, and rosiglitazone, and compared their anticancer activity and selective toxicity against cancer cells. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the anticancer activity and cytotoxic safety of teneligliptin, metformin, and rosiglitazone using the HeLa cancer cell line, derived from human cervical cancer, and human-derived adipose tissue (NHF) cell lines. Incubation periods were 24 and 72 h, with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1000 µg/mL. Vincristine was included for comparison. The selectivity index was estimated to assess the selective toxicity of these medications against cancer cells. The MTT assay revealed that these antidiabetic medications exhibited anticancer effects characterized by inhibition patterns that varied according to concentration and incubation duration. Rosiglitazone and teneligliptin showed superior activity compared with metformin. There was no significant difference in growth inhibition between the antidiabetic medications and vincristine chemotherapy at most concentrations, particularly at higher concentrations after 72 h of incubation. Regarding cytotoxic safety, the three antidiabetic medications, especially teneligliptin, followed by rosiglitazone and metformin, demonstrated selectivity in targeting cancer cells, as indicated by a higher selectivity index that increased with longer incubation. In contrast, vincristine showed low selective toxicity, especially after 72 h, with a lower selectivity index. The three antidiabetic medications, particularly rosiglitazone and teneligliptin, may represent promising candidates for anticancer drug repositioning strategies against cervical cancer, mainly because of their established pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles.
Keywords
HeLa cell line; metformin; NHF cell line; rosiglitazone; Teneligliptin

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