Metformin to reduce lung cancer risk in overweight or obese former smokers
Metformin for chemoprevention of lung cancer in obese subjects at high risk
This project will see whether the common diabetes pill metformin can help prevent lung cancer in overweight or obese people who used to smoke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141784 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to join if you are an overweight or obese former smoker at higher risk for lung cancer, and you may receive metformin while researchers monitor your lung and blood samples. The team will look for immune changes in the lung environment, especially shifts in regulatory T cells, using blood tests and procedures such as bronchoalveolar lavage or biopsies when needed. Prior work in people and mice suggests obesity creates immune changes that metformin can reverse, so this work tests whether those changes occur in at-risk humans. The project aims to link those immune signals to a lower chance of future lung cancer development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are former smokers who are overweight or obese and are considered at high risk for lung cancer.
Not a fit: People who are normal weight, current smokers, or not at elevated risk for lung cancer are less likely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a low-cost way to lower lung cancer risk for many overweight or obese former smokers.
How similar studies have performed: Some earlier studies suggest metformin may lower cancer risk but results have been mixed, and the obesity-specific immune mechanism is a relatively new finding being tested in people.
Where this research is happening
Buffalo, United States
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp — Buffalo, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yendamuri, Saikrishna — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Yendamuri, Saikrishna
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.