Could a diabetes drug boost cancer immunotherapy?
NCT ID NCT04414540
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether adding metformin, a common diabetes drug, to the immunotherapy pembrolizumab (Keytruda) can help shrink tumors in people with metastatic head and neck cancer. The study enrolls 21 adults whose cancer has spread or returned and cannot be treated with surgery or radiation. Researchers will measure how many patients respond to the combination and track any side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and metformin (Glucophage XR)
- What this could lead to
- If this combination works, it could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has spread or come back.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study with only 21 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The combination may not improve outcomes and could cause side effects.
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
-
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States
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