A combination of the diabetes drug metformin and syrosingopine killed tumor cells in blood samples from leukemia patients, while it did not damage blood cells in samples from healthy patients. The combination of metformin and syrosingopine also reduced or eliminated tumors in mice with malignant liver cancer.[3] The drugs interfere with the cancer cells' glucose (i.e. energy) supply and utilization. Cancer cells have much higher energy requirements than normal cells, making them vulnerable when there is a reduction in the available energy supply. Syrosingopine inhibits the degradation of sugars within the cells.[4][medical citation needed]
References
^Shelburne PF, Orgain ES (March 1963). "Comparison of syrosingopine and reserpine in the treatment of ambulatory hypertensive patients". The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 245 (3): 304–10. doi:10.1097/00000441-196303000-00013. PMID13977067. S2CID45098177.
^Bartels CC (October 1959). "Syrosingopine: a new rauwolfia preparation". The New England Journal of Medicine. 261 (16): 785–8. doi:10.1056/NEJM195910152611603. PMID13797201.