Metformin for HNSCC
Hi all,
I have been reading studies showing that diabetes type 2 drug METFORMIN may have some impact on shrinking tumors and increasing over all survival. I am wondering if anyone here is taking/has taken this drug and has any comments. Do you think its helping? Have you had any significant side effects? I am also trying to get a handle on the correct dosage for non-diabetics, if anyone has an idea.... Thanks!
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Head and Neck Cancers group.
It looks like we don't have too many on this board who are familiar with this treatment option, so I'll briefly reply. I have never heard of metaformin being used to actually treat H&NSCC. I am a survivor, as well as a clinical analyst in the field of cancer clinical trials. That being said, I certainly don't know everything that is going on in the field currently, so perhaps there is more than a preliminary investigation of metaformin's usage going on. I can only find this: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5351305/ and it doesn't say a heck of a lot.
Good luck with finding more info about this. If you have been diagnosed, I wish you the best in whatever treatment path you choose.
Marin
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMarin,
Thanks very much for your reply. There's actually quite a few recent and currently ongoing studies although not necessarily with H&NSCC specifically. And certainly metformin is not anywhere near being defined as "standard of care." I was diagnosed with stage 4 tonsil cancer 1 1/2 years ago and have thru and reasonably well tolerated chemo, radiation and immuno (keytruda). My PET scans in Jan of this year looked almost clear after chemo and I was on a once a month cycle of keytruda. However, by June my scans showed it was coming back. I am currently on nivolumab and ipilimumab and feeling pretty well; still working full time and raising teenage sons. But I look beyond what my oncologists offer for treatment options for which there is some clinical or other evidence of efficacy. I am not going to waste what limited time and energy I have on coffee enemas or similar. But re-purposed drugs such as metformin, aspirin or propanalol make some sense to me.
Anyway, thanks for your reply. If you have any thoughts I would love to hear them.
Best regards
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYour quest for an alternative treatment sounds wise. I don't know if you've considered adoptive T-cell therapy, but here is a trial that offers the approach: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?recrs=ab&cond=Head+and+Neck+Cancer+Metastatic&term=Iovance&cntry=&state=&city=&dist=
Wishing you the best of luck and a return to full health!
Marin
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI like the adoptive t cell trial idea as i believe it holds real promise. Metformin is well tolerated with minimal side effects. It has been shown to be active in a variety of cancers: http://news.cancerconnect.com/?s=metformin Metformin appears to induce responses in a variety of cancers and it could certainly be tried i would however favor a trial designed specifically for HENT cancers first
C
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionPlease look into AHCC, I believe it was the reason for non reoccurance of my stage 4 tonsil cancer. 3 grams a day split into two doses or at worst taken at the same time
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionVery interesting. I am not familiar with this supplement. I will certainly look into it. Best regards