Figure 7.

Proposed mechanisms by which metformin prevents NGF–mediated effects in EOC cells. (A) Metformin blocks the NGF-induced c-MYC, survivin and VEGF protein levels, decreasing the proliferative and angiogenic potential of EOC cells. NGF and VEGF are depicted as acting directly on endothelial cells, while c-MYC and survivin changes contribute to EOC cell proliferation and VEGF expression. (B) Metformin increases the expression of oncosuppressor miR-145 and miR-23b, which may be responsible for the observed decreases in c-MYC, survivin and VEGF levels in EOC cells. Filled arrows mean stimulation, thick perpendicular bars mean inhibition and dotted lines mean indirect association.