NCT01440127

Brief Summary

Metformin is drug that is normally used to treat people with diabetes. New research has discovered that metformin may also kill cancer stem cells. These cancer stem cells make up only a small portion of a cancer, but may be responsible for resistance to chemotherapy or for causing recurrence of the cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of metformin on colorectal cancer tumors. The study is designed to develop the methods to test tumors for cancer stem cells and then to determine the difference between treating with metformin and not treating with metformin with regard to the cancer stem cells. This research is investigational because the effect of metformin on cancer stem cells is not known in humans. Also, in patients who are not diabetic, metformin would normally not be given prior to surgery.

Trial Health

57
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Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
9

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for phase_1

Timeline
Completed

Started Aug 2011

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
terminated

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 1, 2011

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 21, 2011

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 26, 2011

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 1, 2012

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 1, 2012

Completed
Last Updated

March 26, 2015

Status Verified

March 1, 2015

Enrollment Period

1.2 years

First QC Date

September 21, 2011

Last Update Submit

March 25, 2015

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Expression of CD133 in tumors from patients treated or not treated with metformin

    2-weeks of metformin treatment

Study Arms (2)

Metformin

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects in this arm are randomized to receive metformin during the period of time between planning the surgery or biopsy and the actual procedure. After approximately 1 week of taking metformin, we will re-check the blood glucose. We will draw blood for cancer stem cells (about 2 teaspoons) and ask about symptoms. Subjects will stop taking metformin 2 days before the procedure.

Drug: Metformin

Observation

NO INTERVENTION

No metformin will be given prior to the scheduled surgery or biopsy.

Interventions

Pills will be taken for one week prior to the scheduled surgery or biopsy procedure.

Also known as: Fortamet, Glucophage, Glumetza, Riomet
Metformin

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 79 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Histologically documented colorectal cancer
  • Intent to undergo disease resection or biopsy at least 7days from the treatment start date (allowing for a minimum of 5 days of treatment plus 2 days break)
  • Medically fit for resection of their primary tumor or for biopsy
  • Age 18-79 years
  • Adequate renal function (serum creatinine levels \<1.5 mg/dL \[males\], \<1.4 mg/dL \[females\] or estimated creatinine clearance \>= 60 ml/min)
  • Adequate hepatic parameters, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels ≤ 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN), total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN, and alkaline phosphatase levels ≤ 2.5 x ULN
  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document

You may not qualify if:

  • Intent to administer neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy prior to the surgery or biopsy;
  • Intent to perform surgery or biopsy within 7 days of study treatment start;
  • Any situation where participation in this trial would alter, or cause significant risk of altering the ability or timing of a subject to undergo resection of their tumor
  • Current use of metformin (within the past month);
  • Blood glucose using point of care test \< 70mg/dl;
  • Significant medical conditions such as cardiovascular collapse (shock), acute myocardial infarction, septicemia, acute or chronic metabolic acidosis
  • History of, or states associated with, lactic acidosis such as shock or pulmonary insufficiency, alcoholism (acute or chronic), conditions associated with hypoxemia and pancreatitis
  • Severe dehydration
  • Clinical or laboratory evidence of hepatic disease
  • Congestive heart failure requiring pharmacologic treatment, or unstable or acute congestive heart failure
  • Known hypersensitivity to metformin hydrochloride
  • Pregnant or lactating women
  • Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements and/or obscure results

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Tufts Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Colonic Neoplasms

Interventions

Metformin

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Colorectal NeoplasmsIntestinal NeoplasmsGastrointestinal NeoplasmsDigestive System NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsDigestive System DiseasesGastrointestinal DiseasesColonic DiseasesIntestinal Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

BiguanidesGuanidinesAmidinesOrganic Chemicals

Study Officials

  • Wasif Saif, MD

    Tufts Medical Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 1
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 21, 2011

First Posted

September 26, 2011

Study Start

August 1, 2011

Primary Completion

October 1, 2012

Study Completion

October 1, 2012

Last Updated

March 26, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-03

Locations