MedPath

Endometrial Cancer Biomarker Changes Following Exposure to Metformin

Phase 2
Withdrawn
Conditions
Endometrial Cancer
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT02042495
Lead Sponsor
Jewish General Hospital
Brief Summary

The investigators will explore the chemopreventive role of metformin. The purpose of this study is to determine whether, among patients with endometrial cancer, treatment with the currently approved insulin sensitizing drug metformin increases or decreases pathway activation distal to the insulin receptor in endometrial cancer tissue. This is a phase IIa study of metformin to be used to the pre-operative period of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer by comparing their endometrial biopsy specimens taken at their initial visit and after 4-6 weeks of treatment of metformin on the day of their surgical staging.

Detailed Description

Aim 1 To determine whether, among patients with endometrial cancer, treatment with the currently approved insulin sensitizing drug metformin increases or decreases pathway activation distal to the insulin receptor in endometrial cancer tissue.

Aim II To compare specified biomarkers in each endometrial cancer patient before and after receiving metformin. Our goal is to compare the following biomarkers in each patient before and after metformin administration: Ki-67, TUNEL assay for apoptosis level, phosphor-AMPK, phosphor-IGF-1R, phosphor-IRS1, phospho-Akt, phospho-S6, phosphor-mTOR, pACC.

All patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer presenting to the Jewish General Hospital for surgical treatment will be invited to participate.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
WITHDRAWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
Not specified
Inclusion Criteria
  • Have a confirmed diagnosis of endometrial cancer based on an endometrial sampling though biopsy or dilatation and curettage
  • Must be able to undergo appropriate surgical staging for endometrial cancer
  • Must consent to be in the study and must have signed and dated an IRB-approved consent form conforming to government and institutional guidelines
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with a contraindication to receiving metformin treatment
  • Patients with cognitive impairment
  • Renal or hepatic functioning > 125% upper limit of normal
  • Currently on medications for metabolic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus
  • History of lactic acidosis
  • Treatment with medications that may increase metformin levels: cationic drugs, e.g., digoxin, amiloride, procainamide, trimethoprim, vancomycin, triamterene, and morphine
  • History of chronic alcohol abuse

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
MetforminMetforminMetformin 500 mg PO TID from time of entry to study until scheduled surgical staging operation. In cases of unresolving side effects, the metformin will be dose reduced to metformin 500 mg PO BID with evaluation after 1 week followed by withdrawal from the study if side effects persist.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in phosphorylated-S64-6 weeks

Paired-t test will be used to determine the effect of oral metformin on the phosphorylated-S6 in pre-treatment and post-treatment endometrial samples.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Effects of metformin on activation pathways downstream of the insulin receptor in endometrial samples by testing phosphorylated insulin-receptor substrate protein 1 (phosphor-IRS1)4-6 weeks

Additional biomarker tested:

* phosphor-IRS1

Effects of metformin on activation pathways downstream of the insulin receptor in endometrial samples by testing phosphorylated-Akt4-6 weeks

Additional biomarker tested:

* phospho-Akt

Assess each patients insulin resistive state using the HOMA (homeostatic model assessment) index4-6 weeks

Assess the effect of metformin on pre-treatment and post-treatment biomarkers in serum to determine the HOMA index

* fasting IGF-I

* fasting insulin

* fasting IGFBP-1

* fasting glucose levels

Effects of metformin on activation pathways downstream of the insulin receptor in endometrial samples by testing the TUNEL assay4-6 weeks

Additional biomarker tested:

* TUNEL assay for apoptosis level

Effects of metformin on activation pathways downstream of the insulin receptor in endometrial samples by testing phosphorylated AMPK4-6 weeks

Additional biomarker tested:

* phosphorylated-AMPK

Effects of metformin on activation pathways downstream of the insulin receptor in endometrial samples by testing phosphorylated IGF-1R4-6 weeks

Additional biomarker tested:

* phosphorylated-IGF-1R

Effects of metformin on activation pathways downstream of the insulin receptor in endometrial samples by testing Ki-674-6 weeks

Additional biomarker tested:

* Ki-67

Effects of metformin on activation pathways downstream of the insulin receptor in endometrial samples by testing phosphorylated mTOR4-6 weeks

Additional biomarker tested:

* phosphor-mTOR

Effects of metformin on activation pathways downstream of the insulin receptor in endometrial samples by testing phosphorylated acetyl-CoA carboxylase (pACC)4-6 weeks

Additional biomarker tested:

* pACC

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Jewish General Hospital

🇨🇦

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath