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Metformin and Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage III-IV Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

A Randomized Placebo Controlled Phase II Trial of Metformin in Conjunction With Chemotherapy Followed by Metformin Maintenance Therapy in Advanced Stage Ovarian, Fallopian Tube and Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02122185
Enrollment
111
Registered
2014-04-24
Start date
2015-02-25
Completion date
2024-10-08
Last updated
2026-03-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Brenner Tumor, Malignant Ascites, Malignant Pleural Effusion, Ovarian Clear Cell Cystadenocarcinoma, Ovarian Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma, Ovarian Mixed Epithelial Carcinoma, Ovarian Serous Cystadenocarcinoma, Ovarian Undifferentiated Adenocarcinoma, Recurrent Fallopian Tube Cancer, Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Recurrent Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor, Recurrent Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer, Stage IIIA Fallopian Tube Cancer, Stage IIIA Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Stage IIIA Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor, Stage IIIA Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer, Stage IIIB Fallopian Tube Cancer, Stage IIIB Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Stage IIIB Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor, Stage IIIB Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer, Stage IIIC Fallopian Tube Cancer, Stage IIIC Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Stage IIIC Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor, Stage IIIC Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer, Stage IV Fallopian Tube Cancer, Stage IV Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Stage IV Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor, Stage IV Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

Brief summary

This randomized phase II trial studies how well metformin hydrochloride and combination chemotherapy works in treating patients with stage III-IV ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin, paclitaxel and docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Metformin hydrochloride may help carboplatin, paclitaxel and docetaxel work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the drugs. Studying samples of blood and tissue in the laboratory from patients receiving metformin hydrochloride may help doctors learn more about the effects of metformin hydrochloride on cells. It may also help doctors understand how well patients respond to treatment. Giving metformin hydrochloride together with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine if the addition of metformin to standard adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus extended metformin (metformin hydrochloride) beyond standard chemotherapy increases progression free survival when compared to 6 cycles of standard chemotherapy alone in non-diabetic subjects with stage III (with any gross residual disease) or stage IV ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube carcinoma. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine whether the addition of metformin to standard chemotherapy plus extended metformin beyond standard chemotherapy increases the time to biochemical progression when compared to chemotherapy alone. II. To compare biochemical (cancer antigen \[CA\]-125) response rates in the two arms. III. To describe and compare toxicities in the two arms. IV. To compare overall survival in both arms. TERTIARY OBJECTIVES: I. To elucidate metformin's molecular mechanism of action in ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer by: determining whether metformin's anti-cancer effects are mediated by systemic metabolic changes, a direct effect on tumor cells, or both, and testing the metabolic and proteomic alterations induced in biospecimens from non-diabetic patients prospectively treated with standard chemotherapy in conjunction with metformin compared to placebo. OUTLINE: Patients receive a standard chemotherapy regimen at the discretion of the treating physician. Regimens include either paclitaxel intravenously (IV) over 2-3 hours and carboplatin IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1; docetaxel IV over 1 hour on and carboplatin IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1; or paclitaxel IV over 1 hour on days 1, 8, and 15, and carboplatin IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 6 courses. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. ARM I: Patients receive metformin hydrochloride orally (PO) twice daily (BID) and standard chemotherapy regimen as above for 6 courses. Treatment for metformin hydrochloride continues for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. ARM II: Patients receive placebo PO BID and standard chemotherapy regimen as above for 6 courses. Treatment for placebo continues for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 2 years.

Interventions

DRUGmetformin hydrochloride

Given PO

DRUGplacebo

Given PO

DRUGChemotherapy

Participants will receive standard chemotherapy (6-8 cycles). Specific regimen to be given was chosen from among six protocol-specified options at the discretion of their treating physician.

Sponsors

University of Chicago
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR PRE-REGISTRATION * A reasonable suspicion of ovarian cancer by the treating oncologist is required, evidenced by abdominal carcinomatosis, omental caking, pleural effusions or ascites AND an elevated CA125 \> 250 OR CA125:carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ratio \> 25 OR CA125 =\< 250 with no evidence of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer * Aged 18 years or older * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 2 * Leukocytes \>= 3,000/mcL * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mcL * Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL * Total bilirubin =\< upper normal institutional limits (except for patients with Gilbert's disease who are eligible despite elevated serum bilirubin level) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 2.0 × institutional upper limit of normal * Creatinine =\< institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 * Blood glucose =\< 126 mg/dL fasting or =\< 140 mg/dL nonfasting * Signed written pre-registration informed consent document ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR REGISTRATION: * Histologically confirmed carcinoma consistent with ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma * Subjects undergoing primary debulking surgery must have stage III or IV disease and have undergone surgery to include, at a minimum, removal of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes; these patients may be optimally debulked (less than 1 cm residual disease) but must have grossly visible macroscopic residual disease OR be suboptimally debulked * Subjects for whom neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval cytoreductive surgery is planned must have fine needle aspirate (FNA) or other cytology showing adenocarcinoma OR core biopsies OR surgically directed biopsies showing adenocarcinoma AND CA125 over 250 OR CA125:CEA ratio \> 25 OR CA =\< 250 with no evidence of GI cancer; they should have presumed stage III or IV disease, generally based on abdominal carcinomatosis, omental caking, pleural effusions or ascites * Subject and her physician must agree to six cycles or up to 8 cycles of one of the standard of care regimens allowed on this protocol; these regimens (starting dosage) include: If \< 70 years old: * IV paclitaxel 175 mg/m\^2 and carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 5-6 every 21 days * IV docetaxel 75 mg/m\^2 and carboplatin AUC 5-6 every 21 days * IV paclitaxel 80 mg/m\^2 day 1, 8, and 15 and carboplatin AUC 5-6 day 1 every 21 days If 70 years or older: * IV paclitaxel 135 mg/m\^2 plus IV carboplatin AUC 5 plus optional G-CSF every 21 days * IV paclitaxel 60 mg/m\^2 day 1, 8, 15 plus IV carboplatin AUC 5 every 21 days (Day 15 paclitaxel optional) * IV paclitaxel 60 mg/m\^2 plus IV carboplatin AUC 2 day 1, 8, and 15 every 21 days * ECOG performance status =\< 2 * Leukocytes \>= 3,000/mcL * absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mcL * platelets \>= 100,000/mcL * total bilirubin =\< upper normal institutional limits (except for patients with Gilbert's disease who are eligible despite elevated serum bilirubin level) * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) =\< 2.0 × institutional upper limit of normal * creatinine =\< OR institutional ULN OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 * blood glucose =\< 126 mg/dL fasting or =\< 140 mg/dL nonfasting * women of child-bearing potential must agree to use an effective method of birth control on trial, as the safety of metformin in pregnancy has not been established; an effective method of birth control includes surgical sterilization of woman or her partner, abstinence, or two barrier methods (e.g. condom plus diaphragm); hormonal methods of birth control are not permitted on this study * ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Progression Free Survival (PFS)Up to 6 yearsTime to disease progression or death from any cause. Progression evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version (v)1.1 and Gynecological Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) criteria. For example, progression is defined using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.1), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to Biochemical (CA-125) Progression, Radiological Progression, or Death.Up to 6 yearsCA125 progression determined using GCIG criteria. Radiological progression assessed using RECIST criteria as described above for PFS. For example, progression is defined using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.1), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.
Overall SurvivalUp to 6 yearsTime from randomization to death.
Number of Participants With Adverse EventsUp to 6 yearsGrade 3 or higher serious adverse event. Graded according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORSeiko Yamada

University of Chicago

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic
Age, Continuous64.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.6
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
7 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
6 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
43 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
54 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
54 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
31 / 5423 / 54
other
Total, other adverse events
52 / 5454 / 54
serious
Total, serious adverse events
19 / 5413 / 54

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 28, 2026