Castration Compared to Castration Plus Metformin as First Line Treatment for Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer in men. Patients with recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer are treated with androgen-deprivation therapy, often termed castration therapy. While the short and medium term benefits of castration are clear in relation to therapeutic efficacy in patients with prostate cancer, it is now appreciated that the resulting hypogonadism associated with castration is responsible for adverse consequences or metabolic syndrome that include increase in body mass index (BMI) and fat mass, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, reduced lean body mass (LBM) and muscle strength, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, poor quality of life and higher cardiovascular mortality. Lower testosterone levels in men independently predict the development of metabolic syndrome. Low testosterone levels in men are associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. Metformin is commonly prescribed for the treatment of type II diabetes because it lowers both glucose and insulin levels. Studies show preliminary evidence that metformin might have both antineoplastic and chemopreventative activity. Castration therapy decreases insulin sensitivity, adversely alters lipid profiles and results in weight gain, and it may be associated with a greater incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Little is known about the optimal strategy to mitigate the adverse metabolic effects of castration in men with prostate cancer. The rationale for using metformin in castrated men with advanced prostate cancer stems from the observation that castration therapy is associated with the metabolic syndrome, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. Furthermore, reports that hyperinsulinemia stimulates insulin receptor expression on prostate cancer leading to tumor growth and development of castrate resistant prostate cancer suggest metformin through its activation of the AMPK-LKBI pathway reduces liver gluconeogenesis secondarily decreasing insulin levels may circumvent tumor growth and resistance to castration therapy. More importantly, evidence that metformin inhibits the mTOR pathway implicates an added therapeutic benefit as an anti-cancer agent.
ConditionProstate Cancer
InterventionDrug: Placebo and Castration
Drug: Metformin and Castration
PhasePhase 2
SponsorDevalingam Mahalingam
Responsible PartyThe University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT01620593
First ReceivedMay 31, 2012
Last UpdatedSeptember 13, 2013
Last verifiedSeptember 2013

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateMay 31, 2012
Last Updated DateSeptember 13, 2013
Start DateApril 2011
Estimated Primary Completion DateMay 2016
Current Primary Outcome MeasuresMetabolic Syndrome [Time Frame: 1 year] [Designated as safety issue: Yes]Compare both cohorts of castrated men (metformin vs. placebo) with regard to metabolic consequences of castration therapy.
Current Secondary Outcome Measures
  • PSA response [Time Frame: 1 year] [Designated as safety issue: No]PSA response, defined as a PSA less than or equal to 4 ng/ml or undetectable value at 7 months.
  • Treatment failure [Time Frame: 1 year] [Designated as safety issue: No]Progression time from randomization to the earliest disease progression defined as an increase of 20% or more as per RECIST criteria. Patients will not be removed from protocol treatment for PSA progression alone in the first 12 weeks on this study. Further rise in PSA even in the absence of deterioration of pre-existing lesions will constitute treatment failure. Adverse event leading to withdrawal related to metformin or placebo or castration treatment. Death from any cause. Patients unwillingness to continue. Patient's non-compliance with taking the study intervention - 50% or higher.
  • Pathway Inhibition [Time Frame: 1 year] [Designated as safety issue: No]Inhibition of the downstream targets of the mTOR pathway, 4E-BPI and p70S6K1 observed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
  • Safety and Efficacy [Time Frame: 1 year] [Designated as safety issue: Yes]The safety and tolerability of metformin with castration therapy as compared to castration therapy alone as measured by CTCAE version 4 criteria.

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleCastration Compared to Castration Plus Metformin as First Line Treatment for Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer
Official TitlePhase II, Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Double Blind, Prospective Study of Castration Compared to Castration Plus Metformin as First Line Treatment for Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer.
Brief Summary
Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer in men. Patients with recurrent or
metastatic prostate cancer are treated with androgen-deprivation therapy, often termed
castration therapy. While the short and medium term benefits of castration are clear in
relation to therapeutic efficacy in patients with prostate cancer, it is now appreciated
that the resulting hypogonadism associated with castration is responsible for adverse
consequences or metabolic syndrome that include increase in body mass index (BMI) and fat
mass, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, reduced lean body mass (LBM)
and muscle strength, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, poor quality of life and higher
cardiovascular mortality. Lower testosterone levels in men independently predict the
development of metabolic syndrome. Low testosterone levels in men are associated with
insulin resistance and diabetes. Metformin is commonly prescribed for the treatment of type
II diabetes because it lowers both glucose and insulin levels. Studies show preliminary
evidence that metformin might have both antineoplastic and chemopreventative activity.
Castration therapy decreases insulin sensitivity, adversely alters lipid profiles and
results in weight gain, and it may be associated with a greater incidence of diabetes and
cardiovascular disease. Little is known about the optimal strategy to mitigate the adverse
metabolic effects of castration in men with prostate cancer. The rationale for using
metformin in castrated men with advanced prostate cancer stems from the observation that
castration therapy is associated with the metabolic syndrome, hyperinsulinemia and insulin
resistance. Furthermore, reports that hyperinsulinemia stimulates insulin receptor
expression on prostate cancer leading to tumor growth and development of castrate resistant
prostate cancer suggest metformin through its activation of the AMPK-LKBI pathway reduces
liver gluconeogenesis secondarily decreasing insulin levels may circumvent tumor growth and
resistance to castration therapy. More importantly, evidence that metformin inhibits the
mTOR pathway implicates an added therapeutic benefit as an anti-cancer agent.
Detailed DescriptionNot Provided
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 2
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
ConditionProstate Cancer
InterventionDrug: Placebo and Castration
All eligible subjects will be randomized in a 1:l manner to receive a bottle containing sufficient 500mg tablets of metformin or placebo, blinded to the patient and the study team.
Drug: Metformin and Castration
All eligible subjects will be randomized in a 1:l manner to receive a bottle containing sufficient500mg tablets of metformin or placebo, blinded to the patient and the study team.
Study Arm (s)
  • Placebo Comparator: Placebo and Castration
    Metabolic consequences including development of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance using metformin compared to placebo in men on castration therapy.
  • Active Comparator: Metformin and Castration
    Metabolic consequences including development of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance using metformin compared to placebo in men on castration therapy. In the rare case where a patient may not tolerate 500 mg three times a day, he may remain on the study taking only 500 mg twice a day.

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusRecruiting
Estimated Enrollment94
Estimated Completion DateMay 2016
Estimated Primary Completion DateMay 2015
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

(Eligible subjects must meet one of the inclusion criteria 1-3 and all of items 4-6)

1. Men with metastatic prostate cancer that require castration therapy with either using
an LHRH analogue or surgical castration are eligible. Complete androgen blockade
using anti-androgen therapy prior to castration or up to 4 weeks following castration
therapy is permitted to prevent disease flare. Thereafter anti-androgen therapy may
continue or be discontinued based on treating physicians preference.

OR

2. Any men with prostate cancer who are candidates for castration therapy despite no
evidence of definite metastatic disease including patient with biochemical failure or
'rising PSA' are also permitted to enter study provided castration therapy is planned
for a minimum of a year. Patients with biochemical failure prior to enrolment should
have also have already received appropriate salvage therapy. Men with prostate cancer
who have already started castration therapy are also permitted to enter study
provided castration therapy was initiated within one month of study entry.

OR

3. Men with prostate cancer previously treated with castration therapy for management of
localized prostate cancer in the adjuvant setting or in combination with radiation
therapy are permitted to enter study provided they currently have known metastatic
disease and have non-castrate testosterone levels (Testosterone > 50 ng1dL).

4. An ECOG performance status of 0-2.

5. Patients will need to have documentation of metastatic disease in bone and/or soft
tissue, and a baseline PSA of 35 nglml. Patients with biochemical failures, with
rising PSA (baseline PSA does not need to be 2 5 nglml to be eligible), without
metastatic disease are also eligible if castration therapy is indicated for a minimum
of a year.

6. Patients must have provided informed consent, be willing to have blood specimens
taken, and exhibit no severe other medical or psychiatric problems.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with severe medical or psychiatric diseases are INELIGIBLE. (Patients with
stable chronic diseases such as high cholesterol or hypertension ARE eligible.)
Examples of problems that would make patients INELIGIBLE include severe heart
failure, or hypoxia due to severe lung disease.

2. Patients with clinical or biochemical evidence of renal failure or liver failure are
INELIGIBLE. Creatinine and bilirubin needs to be less than or equal to 1.3~up per
limit of normal (ULN), and ASTIALT less than or equal to 2.5 x ULN unless liver
metastasis is present then up to 5 X ULN permitted).

3. Patients already receiving metformin or anti-diabetic medications are INELIGIBLE.

4. If any patient develops symptomatic diabetes requiring drug therapy, he must receive
such a therapy, which may include metformin. This must be documented, and the patient
will not continue on the study.

5. Patients with important infections requiring antibiotics are INELIGIBLE, but patients
who acquire minor infections while on the study may remain on the study.

6. Alcohol abuse problems make patients INELIGIBLE. Patients need to be consuming less
than or equal to 14 units of alcohol weekly.

7. Patients with history or evidence of lactic acidosis or metabolic acidosis will be
excluded.
GenderMale
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsContact: Epp Goodwin
210-450-5798
onctrial@idd.org
Location CountriesUnited States

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT01620593
Other Study ID NumbersCTRC 10-21
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeYes
Information Provided ByThe University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Study SponsorDevalingam Mahalingam
CollaboratorsNot Provided
Investigators Principal Investigator: Devalingam Mahalingam, MD, PhD University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Verification DateSeptember 2013

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

Cancer Therapy and Research Center University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78229
Contact: Epp Goodwin | 210-450-5798 | onctrial@idd.org
Principal Investigator: Devalingam Mahalingam, MD, PhD
Recruiting