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Diabetes drug shows promise against deadly skin cancer in early trial
NCT ID NCT01840007
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tested whether metformin, a common diabetes drug, could help treat advanced melanoma that had spread and stopped responding to other treatments. Twenty adults with stage IIIC or IV melanoma took metformin to see if it could shrink their tumors. The goal was to find a new, safer option for a cancer with very few effective treatments.
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 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2011
- Finished
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Nov 2015
- 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.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Major patients with metastatic melanoma (stage IIIC non-résécable or no surgically curable or stage IV with classification AJCC) in progression after a first-line of treatment by vemurafenib or chemotherapy, and non-eligible or non-responders to ipilimumab. Metastases measurable by RECIST criteria. Hematologic, renal and hepatic appropriate functions. Negative pregnancy test. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with symptomatic brain metastases and Performans Status (PS)\>2. Patients with carcinomatous meningitis. Pregnant or breathfeeding women. Patients with a contraindication to the metformine. HIV infection, active infection with HBV or HCV. Patients already treated with metformin in the context of diabetes.
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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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Bahadoran
Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, 06200, France
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MORTIER Laurent
Lille, Nord, 59000, France