Investigating Prevention of Endometrial Cancer with Metformin (PECAM Study)
COMPLETED STUDY
Chief Investigators
- Professor Susan Davis, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
- Professor Robin Bell, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
- Dr Kristy Brown, Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research
Key Associate Investigators
Drs: Shane White, Mitchell Chipman, Jillian Woinarski, Jane McNeilage, Sofie Piessens, Andrew Edwards
Aim
The aim of this study is to determine if we can prevent the development of uterine changes in women who need to take tamoxifen therapy.
Metformin is a medication used to treat diabetes. Metformin also appears to have important anti-cancer effects and is currently being investigated as part of the treatment of breast cancer. There is evidence to suggest that metformin might protect the lining of the uterus from changes that might progress to uterine cancer.
We will investigate whether metformin, commonly used to treat diabetes, blocks cell pathways by which tamoxifen (and oestrogen) stimulates growth of the lining of the uterus.
This study will enable us to determine if there is a potential role for metformin a) to prevent changes to the uterine lining in women treated with tamoxifen b) possibly prevent cancer of the uterus.
Reasons for the study
Over 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia have hormone sensitive cancer. Of these, at least 1/3 will be treated with a drug called tamoxifen, which blocks oestrogen action. A recent large study has shown that 10 years of tamoxifen therapy is more effective than 5 years in prolonging survival.
However, a downside of tamoxifen therapy is an estrogen-like effect on the lining of the uterus which can result in thickening of the lining of the uterus and changes that precede the development of uterine (endometrial) cancer.
Presently there is no treatment to block these effects of tamoxifen. There is also no treatment to prevent uterine cancer in women in the community. As uterine cancer, is the most common gynaecologic cancer in women (1 in 73 Australian women by the age of 75 years) identification of a way to prevent uterine cancer in at risk women is important.