Could diabetes pills boost cancer immunotherapy?

NCT ID NCT04114136

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Dan Zandberg Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 trial is testing whether adding common diabetes drugs (metformin or rosiglitazone) to standard immunotherapy (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) can improve treatment for several advanced solid tumors, including melanoma, lung cancer, and liver cancer. About 72 participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: immunotherapy alone, immunotherapy plus metformin, or immunotherapy plus rosiglitazone. The study aims to see if these combinations can shrink tumors or delay cancer growth.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Nivolumab or Pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1 antibodies) plus either Metformin or Rosiglitazone
What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that adding common diabetes drugs to immunotherapy helps shrink tumors or slow cancer growth in several advanced solid cancers.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial (72 people) testing multiple cancer types, so results may not apply broadly. Adding metformin or rosiglitazone could also cause side effects like stomach upset or fluid retention.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Adenocarcinoma Of Esophagus cutaneous melanoma esophageal adenocarcinoma gastric adenocarcinoma gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma head and neck squamous cell carcinoma hepatocellular carcinoma melanoma metastatic melanoma non-small cell lung carcinoma renal cell carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck urothelial carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMA GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA HNSCC MELANOMA MICROSATELLITE INSTABILITY-HIGH SOLID MALIGNANT TUMOR NSCLC UROTHELIAL CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States

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