Erschienen in:
01.10.2012 | Clinical Trial
Metformin in early breast cancer: a prospective window of opportunity neoadjuvant study
verfasst von:
Saroj Niraula, Ryan J. O. Dowling, Marguerite Ennis, Martin C. Chang, Susan J. Done, Nicky Hood, Jaime Escallon, Wey Liang Leong, David R. McCready, Michael Reedijk, Vuk Stambolic, Pamela J. Goodwin
Erschienen in:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
|
Ausgabe 3/2012
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Abstract
Metformin may exert anti-cancer effects through indirect (insulin-mediated) or direct (insulin-independent) mechanisms. We report results of a neoadjuvant “window of opportunity” study of metformin in women with operable breast cancer. Newly diagnosed, untreated, non-diabetic breast cancer patients received metformin 500 mg tid after diagnostic core biopsy until definitive surgery. Clinical (weight, symptoms, and quality of life) and blood [fasting serum insulin, glucose, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and leptin] attributes were compared pre- and post-metformin as were terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and Ki67 scores (our primary endpoint) in tumor tissue. Thirty-nine patients completed the study. Mean age was 51 years, and metformin was administered for a median of 18 days (range 13–40) up to the evening prior to surgery. 51 % had T1 cancers, 38 % had positive nodes, 85 % had ER and/or PgR positive tumors, and 13 % had HER2 overexpressing or amplified tumors. Mild, self-limiting nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, and abdominal bloating were present in 50, 50, 41, and 32 % of patients, respectively, but no significant decreases were seen on the EORTC30-QLQ function scales. Body mass index (BMI) (−0.5 kg/m2, p < 0.0001), weight (−1.2 kg, p < 0.0001), and HOMA (−0.21, p = 0.047) decreased significantly while non-significant decreases were seen in insulin (−4.7 pmol/L, p = 0.07), leptin (−1.3 ng/mL, p = 0.15) and CRP (−0.2 mg/L, p = 0.35). Ki67 staining in invasive tumor tissue decreased (from 36.5 to 33.5 %, p = 0.016) and TUNEL staining increased (from 0.56 to 1.05, p = 0.004). Short-term preoperative metformin was well tolerated and resulted in clinical and cellular changes consistent with beneficial anti-cancer effects; evaluation of the clinical relevance of these findings in adequately powered clinical trials using clinical endpoints such as survival is needed.