NCT04931017

Brief Summary

This phase II trial determines the effect of metformin extended release on the risk for developing lung cancer in overweight/obese patients that are at high-risk for developing lung cancer. Metformin is widely used to treat type II diabetes and has a long history of safety and minimal side effects. At similar dosage, the drug may have potential anti-cancer activity. Metformin use has been associated with improved survival in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma, a specific type of lung cancer, and it has also been shown to enhance immune mobilization against tumors. This trial aims to see whether metformin extended release as a preventative treatment may lower the chance of developing lung cancer, and whether it may help patients' immune system learn ("reprogram") to lower a certain type of immune cell (called regulatory T cells) that are linked to tumor development.

Trial Health

78
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_2

Timeline
14mo left

Started Sep 2022

Longer than P75 for phase_2

Geographic Reach
2 countries

4 active sites

Status
active not recruiting

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

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress76%
Sep 2022Jun 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 17, 2021

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 18, 2021

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 9, 2022

Completed
4.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2026

Expected
6 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 30, 2027

Last Updated

October 7, 2025

Status Verified

October 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

4.3 years

First QC Date

June 17, 2021

Last Update Submit

October 1, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • PD-1 expression of pulmonary regulatory T cells (Tregs) before and after metformin extended release (ER) treatment

    Change from pre- to post-metformin extended release (ER) treatment in cell surface PD-1 expression levels of pulmonary (BAL) Tregs, measured as mean fluorescent intensity (MFI). Changes in MFI due to metformin ER treatment among all n = 40 subjects will be used for the primary analysis.

    Pre- to post-treatment

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Estimated PD-1 expression of pulmonary Tregs change in cohort B during the wait period (6 months with no treatment)

    Randomization to week 26

  • Circulating immune cells

    Pre- to post-treatment

Other Outcomes (4)

  • Airway gene expression

    Up to study completion

  • Examination of the immune profile of pulmonary parenchyma represented by bronchoalveolar lavage

    Pre- to post-treatment

  • Histologic progression

    Up to study completion

  • +1 more other outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Cohort A - Former Smokers (metformin ER)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive metformin ER PO QD for 26 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Participants undergo bronchoscopy biopsy and blood sample collection at screening, and week 13.

Procedure: BiopsyProcedure: Biospecimen CollectionProcedure: BronchoscopyDrug: Extended Release Metformin HydrochlorideOther: Questionnaire Administration

Cohort B - Former Smokers (metformin ER with waiting period)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive no intervention for 26 weeks, then cross-over to Cohort A. Participants undergo bronchoscopy biopsy and blood sample collection at screening, at week 26, and at 13 weeks after cross-over to Cohort A.

Procedure: BiopsyProcedure: Biospecimen CollectionProcedure: BronchoscopyDrug: Extended Release Metformin HydrochlorideOther: Questionnaire Administration

Interventions

BiopsyPROCEDURE

Undergo biopsy

Also known as: BIOPSY_TYPE, Bx
Cohort A - Former Smokers (metformin ER)Cohort B - Former Smokers (metformin ER with waiting period)

Undergo blood sample collection

Also known as: Biological Sample Collection, Biospecimen Collected, Specimen Collection
Cohort A - Former Smokers (metformin ER)Cohort B - Former Smokers (metformin ER with waiting period)
BronchoscopyPROCEDURE

Undergo bronchoscopy

Cohort A - Former Smokers (metformin ER)Cohort B - Former Smokers (metformin ER with waiting period)

Given PO

Also known as: ER Metformin Hydrochloride, Extended-release Metformin Hydrochloride, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Metformin Hydrochloride Extended Release
Cohort A - Former Smokers (metformin ER)Cohort B - Former Smokers (metformin ER with waiting period)

Ancillary studies

Cohort A - Former Smokers (metformin ER)Cohort B - Former Smokers (metformin ER with waiting period)

Eligibility Criteria

Age30 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Former smokers (male and female) with a \>= 20 pack year smoking history
  • Quit smoking \>= 12 months prior to enrollment
  • Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCOm2012) Lung Cancer Risk Prediction Score \> 1.34%
  • Overweight
  • Body mass index (BMI) \> 25 and
  • Waist circumference
  • Female \> 88 cm (35")
  • Male \> 102 cm (40")
  • Age greater than 30 years. Participants younger than 30 years are unlikely to accrue enough smoking exposure followed by enough time after quitting (\>12 months) to qualify
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 2
  • Leukocytes \>= 3,000/microliter
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,000/microliter
  • Platelets \>= 100,000/microliter
  • Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (IULN)
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 3.0 x IULN
  • +5 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • Current or previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type I or type II diabetes)
  • Use of metformin within the past 2 years
  • Use of GLP-1 agonists within 6 weeks prior to enrollment
  • Glycosylated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) \> 8%
  • History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to metformin ER
  • Participants currently using immunosuppressive medication, including systemic steroids (not inhalational) and episodic use of inhaled steroids are excluded from this trial due to the potential impact of these treatments on the primary trial endpoint
  • Participants receiving any other investigational agents
  • History of chronic alcohol use or abuse defined by any one of the following:
  • Average consumption of 3 or more alcohol containing beverages daily in the past 12 months
  • Consumption of 7 or more alcoholic beverages within a 24 hour period in the past 12 months
  • Acute or chronic liver disease, evidence of hepatitis (infectious or autoimmune), cirrhosis or portal hypertension
  • History of or current condition predisposing to increased risk for lactic acidosis such as: severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] class III or IV), metabolic acidosis, severe liver disease, or renal failure
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness or psychiatric illness/social situations that would or limit compliance with study requirements
  • Pregnant women are excluded from this study. Metformin ER is a class B agent that was not teratogenic in rats and rabbits at doses representing 3 and 6 times the maximum recommended human daily dose of 2000 mg; however, animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events (AEs) in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with metformin ER, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with metformin ER
  • Biopsy with invasive carcinoma of the lung or carcinoma in situ
  • +1 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (4)

Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

Location

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Buffalo, New York, 14263, United States

Location

BC Cancer Research Centre

Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1L3, Canada

Location

University of British Columbia Hospital

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 2B5, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Lung Neoplasms

Interventions

BiopsySpecimen HandlingBronchoscopyMetformin

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiratory Tract NeoplasmsThoracic NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsLung DiseasesRespiratory Tract Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

CytodiagnosisCytological TechniquesClinical Laboratory TechniquesDiagnostic Techniques and ProceduresDiagnosisDiagnostic Techniques, SurgicalSurgical Procedures, OperativeInvestigative TechniquesDiagnostic Techniques, Respiratory SystemEndoscopyMinimally Invasive Surgical ProceduresPulmonary Surgical ProceduresThoracic Surgical ProceduresBiguanidesGuanidinesAmidinesOrganic Chemicals

Study Officials

  • Saikrishna S Yendamuri

    Roswell Park University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Model Details: This is a partial crossover model whereby the no-treatment subjects will receive the drug after being controls.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 17, 2021

First Posted

June 18, 2021

Study Start

September 9, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2027

Last Updated

October 7, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

NCI is committed to sharing data in accordance with NIH policy. For more details on how clinical trial data is shared, access the link to the NIH data sharing policy page.

More information

Locations