Could a common diabetes drug stop oral cancer before it starts?
NCT ID NCT02581137
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether metformin, a widely used diabetes drug, can prevent oral cancer in 26 people with precancerous mouth lesions (leukoplakia or erythroplakia). Participants take metformin by mouth, and researchers check if the lesions shrink or disappear. The goal is to see if this safe, affordable drug can stop cancer from forming.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Metformin (a common diabetes drug)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a way to prevent oral cancer in people with precancerous mouth lesions.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 26 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Metformin is generally safe but can cause side effects like stomach upset.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
BC Cancer Research Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1L3, Canada
-
UC San Diego Medical Center - Hillcrest
San Diego, California, 92103, United States
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University of British Columbia Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 2B5, Canada
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University of Minnesota/Masonic Cancer Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States
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