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Phase 2, Open-label, Single-arm Study on the Use of Metformin as Adjunctive Therapy in High-grade Glioma

Phase 2, Open-label, Single-arm Study on the Use of Metformin as Adjunctive Therapy in High-grade Glioma

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05929495
Enrollment
25
Registered
2023-07-03
Start date
2024-02-12
Completion date
2026-01-01
Last updated
2025-07-25

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

Conditions

Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, Malignancies, Metformin

Keywords

Metformin, Gliomas, GBM

Brief summary

About 75% of CNS malignant tumors are classified as gliomas and the IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (GBM) represents the most aggressive form among CNS malignancies. This is a nationwide single-center phase II drug clinical trial with an approximate duration of 32 months. The clinical trial will be single-arm to evaluate the biological activity and effects of metformin in combination with TMZ in patients with GBM.

Detailed description

About 75% of CNS malignant tumors are classified as gliomas, tumors of neuroectodermal origin arising from glial cells or glial cell precursors. The World Health Organization classification distinguishes gliomas into low-grade gliomas (low-grade gliomas, grade I and II) and high-grade gliomas (high-grade gliomas, grade III and IV). IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (GBM) represents the most aggressive form among CNS malignancies. Over the past century, numerous epidemiological and experimental observations have reported a preventive and beneficial antitumor effect of metformin, which has suggested the possibility of using it as adjunctive therapy in many cancer subtypes, including GBM. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Metformin as adjuvant therapy to TMZ in the treatment of patients with GBM. Patients will start with a Metformin dose of 1 g/day orally in two administrations (500 mg tablets) during the first two weeks of treatment, increasing to 2 g/day in two 1 g tablets thereafter. The approximate total duration of the study is 32 months, and 25 patients will be enrolled

Interventions

DRUGMetformin

The investigator will identify potential participants and confirm the diagnosis of GBM. Subjects will be screened within 6 weeks before starting treatment. Treatment will involve: * Administration of the standard or partial Stupp protocol (Radiotherapy + Temozolomide) in combination with Metformin for 6 weeks, * Treatment with only Metformin for 4 weeks; * Resumption of adjuvant TMZ + Metformin treatment continuously until the end of the enrollment period.

Sponsors

University of Milano Bicocca
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Metformin dose of 1 g/day orally in two administrations (500 mg tablets) during the first two weeks of treatment, increasing to 2 g/day in two 1 g tablets thereafter

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Patients with newly diagnosed histologically confirmed GBM (WHO grade IV, IDH wild type) undergoing surgical resection; * hypomethylation or hypermethylation of MGMT assessed post-surgery; * adult patients (≥18 years), both sexes; * Patients undergoing Stupp protocol including patients aged \> 70 years performing the hypofractionated protocol and three weeks of chemotherapy; * Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS)\> 60 assessed post-surgery; * life expectancy at least 6 months defined by size and location of lesion tumor; * freely given written informed consent prior to any activity related to the study. Patients must be able to communicate with the investigator and comply with the study procedures; * Women of childbearing age must test negative for pregnancy at enrollment and, if they have sexual intercourse, they must agree to use specific contraceptive methods. Female subjects of childbearing age, i.e., fertile, after menarche and until post-menopause unless they are permanently infertile, who are sexually active, must apply a highly effective method of birth control with a low failure rate (i.e., less than 1 percent per year), such as combined hormonal contraception (containing estrogen and progestin) combined with ovulation inhibition (oral intravaginal, or transdermal), progestin-only hormonal contraception associated with ovulation inhibition (oral, injectable, or implantable), intrauterine device (IUD), intrauterine hormone delivery system (IUS), bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomized partner, or sexual abstinence, throughout the treatment period and for four weeks after the last dose of the study treatment. Hormonal methods other than levonorgestrel-containing devices or medroxyprogesterone injections should be supplemented with the use of a male condom. Women of nonfertile age may be included if surgically sterile or postmenopausal for at least 2 years. The investigator is responsible for determining whether the patient has adopted an appropriate method of contraception for participation in the study. * Male subjects with female partners of childbearing age must use condoms during treatment and until the end of relevant systemic exposure.

Exclusion criteria

* Multicenter GBMs; * Patients diagnosed with diabetes or diabetes-related conditions; * other active malignancies; * hypersensitivity, intolerance to metformin or excipients; * Impaired renal function with creatinine clearance \< 60 mL/min assessed at recruitment, liver failure assessed at recruitment by clinical history and examination of ALT, AST and total bilirubin, and other contraindications to metformin use; * taking metformin, insulin or other biguanides, regardless of the reason; * pregnancy or lactation; * patient has serious pre-existing medical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in this study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Value of PFS at 6 months after the start of treatmentFrome baseline to 6 monthsIt allow us to determine the efficacy at the recommended dose (RD) of metformin in patients with GBM

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
MMSE questionnaire at 6 months after the start of treatmentFrome baseline to 6 monthsThe Mini Mental State Evaluation questionnaire allow us to evaluate the change in the level of health-related quality of life. It consists of several questions for the patient to answer, but there are no minimum or maximum values for the patient to choose from.
Safety and tolerability assessment of treatmentFrom baseline through study completion, an average of 32 monthsSafety will be assessed throughout the study as type, frequency and severity of grade III and IV events. Tolerability will be assessed as number of discontinuations or dose reduction and by evaluation of clinical and hematochemical parameters
Plasma measurement of circulating metabolitesAt study completion, an average of 32 monthsPeri-operative plasma will be taken from each patient for hematochemical analysis, in order to research of prognostic biomarkers.
EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire at 6 months after the start of treatmentFrome baseline to 6 monthsThe Quality of Life of Cancer Patients questionnaire allow us to evaluate the change in the level of health-related quality of life. It consists of several questions that the patient must answer by choosing a value from 1 (minimum) to 4/7 (maximum), depending on the question.
Proteomic analysisAt study completion, an average of 32 monthsPeri-operative plasma will be taken from each patient for proteomic analysis, in order to research of prognostic biomarkers.
Correlations between in vivo clinical response and effect of association measured in vitro on cell lines obtained from the same patient undergoing surgeryAt the end of recruitment, an average of 18 monthsIn vitro cell response measured as cell growth inhibition and correlation with clinical response (PFS) of the same patient.
Gene expression analysisAt the end of recruitment, an average of 18 monthsIdentifying the molecular phenotype of cells taken from patients' tissue samples during surgery and comparing clinical response and molecular phenotype by transcriptomic analysis
Plasma measurement of adiponectinAt study completion, an average of 32 monthsPeri-operative plasma will be taken from each patient for hematochemical analysis, in order to research of prognostic biomarkers.

Countries

Italy

Contacts

Primary ContactManuela Caroli, Dott.ssa
manuela.caroli@policlinico.mi.it0255035502
Backup ContactRosa Maria Moresco, Dott.ssa
rosa.moresco@unimib.it0264488256

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026