Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Pre-clinical studies have shown that metformin reduces intratumoral hypoxia, improves T-cell function, and increases sensitivity to PD-1 blockade, and metformin exposure has been associated with improved clinical outcomes in various types of cancer. However, the impact of this drug in diabetic melanoma patients has not yet been fully elucidated.Methods
We reviewed 4,790 diabetic patients with stage I-IV cutaneous melanoma treated at the UPMC-Hillman Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 1996-2020. The primary endpoints included recurrence rates, progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) with and without metformin exposure. Tabulated variables included BRAF mutational status, immunotherapy (IMT) by type, and incidence of brain metastases.Results
The five-year incidence of recurrence in stage I/II patients was significantly reduced with metformin exposure (32.3% vs 47.7%, p=0.012). The five-year recurrence rate for stage III patients was also significantly reduced (58.3% vs 77.3%, p=0.013) in the metformin cohort. OS was numerically increased in nearly all stages exposed to metformin, though this did not reach statistical significance. The incidence of brain metastases was significantly lower in the metformin cohort (8.9% vs 14.6%, p=0.039).Conclusion
This is the first study to demonstrate significantly improved clinical outcomes in diabetic melanoma patients exposed to metformin. Overall, these results provide further rationale for ongoing clinical trials studying the potential augmentation of checkpoint blockade with metformin in advanced melanoma.
SUBMITTER: Augustin RC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10312386 | biostudies-literature | 2023
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Augustin Ryan C RC Huang Ziyu Z Ding Fei F Zhai Shuyan S McArdle Jennifer J Santisi Anthony A Davis Michael M Sander Cindy C Davar Diwakar D Kirkwood John M JM Delgoffe Greg M GM Warner Allison Betof AB Najjar Yana G YG
Frontiers in oncology 20230616
<h4>Background</h4>Pre-clinical studies have shown that metformin reduces intratumoral hypoxia, improves T-cell function, and increases sensitivity to PD-1 blockade, and metformin exposure has been associated with improved clinical outcomes in various types of cancer. However, the impact of this drug in diabetic melanoma patients has not yet been fully elucidated.<h4>Methods</h4>We reviewed 4,790 diabetic patients with stage I-IV cutaneous melanoma treated at the UPMC-Hillman Cancer Center and M ...[more]