Table 3 Summary of clinical trials on metformin administration in cancer therapy
Title and identification | Intervention/treatment | Results |
|---|---|---|
Phase II study of metformin for reduction of obesity-associated breast cancer risk [172, 173] NCT02028221 | Metformin/placebo Metformin 850 mg 1 tablet by the oral route, then metformin 850 mg 1 tablet twice daily for the duration of the intervention period | Decrease in tumor size within 6–12 months, as well as serum level of insulin-like growth factor and serum insulin levels |
Castration compared to castration plus metformin as first-line treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer [174] ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01620593 | Metformin/placebo 500 mg metformin three times a day | PSA ≤ 4 ng/ml or undetectable value at 7 months Metformin did not affect metabolic syndrome followed by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) |
A Trial of standard chemotherapy with metformin (vs placebo) in women with metastatic breast cancer [175] ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01310231 | Metformin 850Â mg in addition to standard chemotherapy (including anthracyclines, platinum, taxanes or capecitabine; first or second line) | Progression-free survival was not affected; overall survival, and response rate in non diabetic breast cancer patients |
Evaluation of metformin, targeting cancer stem cells for prevention of relapse in gynecologic patients [88] ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01579812 | Receiving metformin prior to primary surgery. After surgery patients received metformin prior to the initiation of chemotherapy | Improved overall survival in ovarian cancer patients, and by epigenetic changes in the tumor stroma may resensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy |
Bicalutamide with or without metformin for biochemical recurrence in overweight or obese prostate cancer Patients (BIMET-1) [176] ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02614859 | Metformin 1000Â mg Bicalutamide 50Â mg daily | Metformin monotherapy had better results in decreasing PSA compared with combination therapy. Also, combination therapy and monotherapy both improved anti-tumor activity of T cells and NK cells and. therefore, modulated immune system |