Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) leads to adenomas and eventual adenocarcinomas in colon and less frequently, duodenum. Chemopreventive strategies have been studied in FAP patients to delay the development of adenomas and cancers. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor have shown the regression of colorectal and duodenal adenomas in FAP patients. However, these drugs showed gastrointestinal damage and cardiovascular risks, and new preventive strategies are needed. Metformin, a biguanide, which is widely used for treating diabetes mellitus, has recently been suggested to have a suppressive effect on tumorigenesis via mTOR-inhibiting pathway, and have no significant safety issues in long term use. The investigators devised a double-blind randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of metformin on polyps of colorectum and duodenum in non-diabetic FAP patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
34
Patients will be randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to receive metformin or identical-appearing placebo tablets orally for 7 months: metformin 500mg once and placebo twice a day in arm A, metformin 500mg three times a day in arm B, and placebo three times a day in arm C.
Patients will be randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to receive metformin or identical-appearing placebo tablets orally for 7 months: metformin 500mg once and placebo twice a day in arm A, metformin 500mg three times a day in arm B, and placebo three times a day in arm C.
Patients will be randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to receive metformin or identical-appearing placebo tablets orally for 7 months: metformin 500mg once and placebo twice a day in arm A, metformin 500mg three times a day in arm B, and placebo three times a day in arm C.
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine
Seoul, South Korea
the mean percentage change of the number and size of polyps in colon and/or duodenum.
At the base-line endoscopy, India-ink tattoo will be placed in the ascending colon, sigmoid colon/rectum, and duodenum. In case of patient with retained rectum after colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis, sigmoidoscopy will be performed. The base-line and seven-month endoscopic examination will be recorded, and photographs will be taken at the tattoo-marked area and used for measurements of the number and size of polyps. The diameter of a polyp will be measured with the aid of biopsy forceps included in the photographic field, and only distinct polyps at least 2 mm in diameter will be counted.
Time frame: After seven-month administration of metformin/placebo, colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy will be performed.
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