Diabetes drug metformin may boost chemo for ovarian cancer

NCT ID NCT02122185

Completed Disease control Sponsor: University of Chicago Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase II trial tested whether adding metformin, a common diabetes drug, to standard chemotherapy could help control advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. 111 participants received either metformin or a placebo alongside chemotherapy, followed by maintenance therapy. The goal was to see if metformin could delay cancer progression by making tumor cells more sensitive to chemo.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

metformin hydrochloride (Glucophage)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could point toward a way to make chemotherapy more effective for advanced ovarian cancer, potentially delaying disease progression.

What could go wrong

This is a phase II trial with only 111 participants, so results are preliminary. Metformin may not improve outcomes, and side effects from chemotherapy remain a risk.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Brenner tumor Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial fallopian tube cancer fallopian tube carcinoma fallopian tube neoplasm malignant germ cell tumor of ovary ovarian carcinoma ovarian clear cell cystadenocarcinoma ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma ovarian germ cell tumor ovarian seromucinous carcinoma ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma peritoneum cancer Pleural Effusion, Malignant primary peritoneal carcinoma undifferentiated ovarian carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

BRENNER TUMOR MALIGNANT ASCITES MALIGNANT PLEURAL EFFUSION OVARIAN CLEAR CELL CYSTADENOCARCINOMA OVARIAN ENDOMETRIOID ADENOCARCINOMA OVARIAN MIXED EPITHELIAL CARCINOMA OVARIAN SEROUS CYSTADENOCARCINOMA OVARIAN UNDIFFERENTIATED ADENOCARCINOMA RECURRENT FALLOPIAN TUBE CANCER RECURRENT OVARIAN EPITHELIAL CANCER RECURRENT OVARIAN GERM CELL TUMOR RECURRENT PRIMARY PERITONEAL CAVITY CANCER STAGE IIIA FALLOPIAN TUBE CANCER STAGE IIIA OVARIAN EPITHELIAL CANCER STAGE IIIA OVARIAN GERM CELL TUMOR STAGE IIIA PRIMARY PERITONEAL CAVITY CANCER STAGE IIIB FALLOPIAN TUBE CANCER STAGE IIIB OVARIAN EPITHELIAL CANCER STAGE IIIB OVARIAN GERM CELL TUMOR STAGE IIIB PRIMARY PERITONEAL CAVITY CANCER STAGE IIIC FALLOPIAN TUBE CANCER STAGE IIIC OVARIAN EPITHELIAL CANCER STAGE IIIC OVARIAN GERM CELL TUMOR STAGE IIIC PRIMARY PERITONEAL CAVITY CANCER STAGE IV FALLOPIAN TUBE CANCER STAGE IV OVARIAN EPITHELIAL CANCER STAGE IV OVARIAN GERM CELL TUMOR STAGE IV PRIMARY PERITONEAL CAVITY CANCER

Contacts and locations

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Locations

City of Hope

Duarte, California, 91010, United States
Decatur Memorial Hospital

Decatur, Illinois, 62526, United States
Ingalls Memorial Hospital

Harvey, Illinois, 60426, United States
Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
Mitchell Cancer Institute - University of South Alabama

Mobile, Alabama, 36604, United States
NCH Medical Group- Northwest Community Hospital

Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60005, United States
NorthShore University HealthSystem

Evanston, Illinois, 60201, United States
Rush University Medical Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
University of Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States