Add-on metformin promising in ER-positive endometrial cancer

The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Amanda Jackson was featured in a MedPage Today article commenting on new research that found adding metformin as a combination therapy was tied to deep responses and prolonged progression-free survival in some patients with recurrent estrogen receptor (ER)-positive endometrial cancer.

All 25 patients in the RESOLVE study, led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, received metformin in addition to the drugs letrozole and abemaciclib.

At a median follow-up of 17 months, three patients had a complete response to the therapy, five had a partial response and 16 had stable disease. Median progression free survival was beyond 19.3 months, with no patients stopping the therapy due to toxicities.

Jackson, MD, noted multiple studies have suggested metformin can have a positive effect on progression free survival for this subset of patients.

While not effective to treat specific mutations, "metformin seems cost effective and has minimal side effects, and is probably a great option," said Jackson, a Cancer Center physician-researcher and associate professor, division chief and vice chair in the UC College of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Read the MedPage Today article.

Featured photo at top of hands holding a vial of metformin. Photo/Tashatuvango/iStock Photo.