Old drugs, new hope? early trial combines metformin, digoxin, and simvastatin for advanced cancers
NCT ID NCT03889795
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-stage trial is testing whether a combination of three widely used drugs—metformin (for diabetes), digoxin (for heart conditions), and simvastatin (for cholesterol)—can be safely given to people with advanced pancreatic cancer or other solid tumors that have stopped responding to standard treatments. The main goal is to find the safest dose and watch for side effects. Only 15 participants are enrolled, so this is a first step to see if further study is warranted.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Metformin, digoxin, and simvastatin (oral pills)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new, low-cost combination approach for advanced cancers that have stopped responding to standard treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early (Phase 1) trial with only 15 people, so it is mainly checking safety and dosing. It is not designed to prove the drugs shrink tumors or extend life, and side effects are possible.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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About 15 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jun 2019
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria 1. Subject ≥18 years with histologically confirmed solid tumor. 2. Dose expansion subjects must have at least one tumor mass amenable to core needle biopsy. 3. Refractory or intolerant to established standard of care. 4. Have at least one tumor mass amenable to core needle biopsy. Adequate Archival Tissue required for patients that will take part in the dose escalation cohorts. 5. ECOG performance status (PS) = 0-2, or Karnofsky PS ≥60%, or Lansky PS ≥60%. 6. Normal organ and marrow function: absolute granulocyte count ≥1,000/mm3, absolute lymphocyte count ≥400/mm3, platelets ≥100,000/mm3, total bilirubin ≤ institutional upper normal limit, AST/ASL ≤2x institutional upper limit of normal, GFR \>60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and creatinine \<1.5 mg/dL. 7. Subject has recovered to CTCAE Grade 1 or better from all adverse events associated with prior therapy or surgery. Pre-existing motor or sensory neurologic pathology or symptoms must be recovered to CTCAE Grade 2 or better. 8. If female of childbearing potential, has a negative urine or serum pregnancy test. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a negative serum test will then be required for study entry. 9. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed protocol specific consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Anti-cancer chemotherapy, biologic therapy or immunotherapy within 3 weeks or radiation therapy within 2 weeks of first infusion. 2. Known history of other malignancy unless having undergone curative intent therapy without evidence of that disease for ≥ 3 years except cutaneous squamous cell and basal cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, in situ cervical cancer or other in situ cancers are allowed if definitively resected. 3. Patients with only PET non-avid disease. 4. Brain metastases unless treated with curative intent (gamma knife or surgical resection) and without evidence of progression for ≥ 2 months. 5. Known history of rhabdomyolysis. 6. History of or current evidence of any condition (including medical, psychiatric or substance abuse disorder), therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the Investigator. 7. Known HIV or chronic Hepatitis B or C infection. 8. Have signs and symptoms consistent with an active infection. 9. Live vaccination for the prevention of infectious disease administered \<30 days prior to the start of study therapy or inactivated vaccination \<14 days prior to the start of study therapy. 10. History of severe allergic, anaphylactic, or other hypersensitivity reactions to Metformin, Simvastatin, and/or Digoxin. 11. Patients diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome or electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern. Other cardiac conditions including: Previous MI with evidence of residual electrographic pattern consisted with bradycardia/heart block. Atrio-ventricular (AV) heart block (currently ongoing). History of ventricular fibrillation. Sick Sinus Syndrome or Sinus bradycardia thought to be caused by sinus node disease, unless effectively treated. Heart failure associated with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, including constructive pericarditis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and Amyloid heart muscle disease. 12. Women of childbearing potential who are found to be pregnant as evidenced by positive serum pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) or nursing.
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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
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University of Toledo, Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center
Toledo, Ohio, 43614, United States
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