Common diabetes and acne drugs tested against cancer
NCT ID NCT02874430
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial tested whether combining metformin (a diabetes drug) with doxycycline (an antibiotic) could help treat localized breast and uterine cancers. The study enrolled 29 people who were scheduled for surgery. Researchers looked at changes in certain proteins in the tumor's supportive tissue. The trial was terminated early, so the findings are not conclusive.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Metformin and doxycycline
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could point toward a new way to slow or control certain breast and uterine cancers by targeting supportive cells around tumors.
- What could go wrong
- The trial was terminated early with only 29 participants, so results are very limited. It is unclear if the combination works better than standard care, and side effects are possible.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for BREAST CARCINOMA are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Phone-Based navigation could boost breast cancer detection in kenya
- Digital therapy aims to tame the fear that haunts cancer survivors
- Can an immune booster help chemotherapy fight metastatic breast cancer?
- Can a sticky film shield breast cancer patients from radiation burns in tropical heat?
- Can a simpler, cheaper method for marking breast tumors work as well as ultrasound?
- Could adding chemo help older breast cancer patients live longer? a major trial investigates.