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Clinical Summary

Does metformin use improve outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer?

Takeaway

  • In patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metformin use was not associated with overall survival, recurrence-free survival, disease-specific survival, local control, regional control or distant control overall or within any sub-site.

Why this matters

  • Findings suggest metformin may not be useful in patients with HNSCC overall or by sub-site.

Study design

  • This retrospective study included 329 patients (metformin users, n=195; non-metformin users, n=134) with HNSCC and T2DM.
  • Outcomes: overall survival, recurrence-free survival and disease-specific survival at 5 years.
  • Funding: None.

Key results

  • Metformin use was significantly not associated with improved:
    • local control (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.63-2.02; P=.68),
    • regional control (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.36-1.69; P=.54), or
    • distant control (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.49-2.24; P=.9).
  • No significant difference was observed between metformin users and non-metformin group in:
    • overall survival (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.72-1.5; P=.83),
    • recurrence-free survival (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.66-1.62; P=.88), and
    • disease-specific survival (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.68-1.98; P=.58).

Limitations

  • Retrospective design.
  • Risk for confounders.

References


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