Ovarian Cancer Patients Needed For Metformin Trial

The Nancy Yeary Women’s Cancer Research Foundation (NYWCRF) is recruiting newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer patients for their first line trial involving standard chemotherapy treatment in conjunction with metformin.

“Retrospective trials have shown that metformin is associated with anti-cancer activity, and it has been studied in several types of malignancies including endometrial, breast, and ovarian cancer,” said Dr. Lisa Abaid, lead investigator and author of the study. “It may, when combined with chemotherapy, improve treatment response rates and prevent the return of cancer.”

The NYWCRF trial, which is also sponsored by Gynecologic Oncology Associates of Newport Beach, began in April 2014, and will recruit a total of 30 patients. For additional information, physicians and patients may contact the NYWCRF Research Director, Katrina Lopez, at 949-642-5165 or katrina@nancycancer.com.

Metformin is traditionally used to treat type-2 diabetes by controlling the amount of glucose in the blood. The NYWCRF trial was designed in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is funded by the NYWCRF and the Hoag Family Cancer Institute.

“Metformin is also very promising in that the medication is generally well tolerated with few side effects,” said Abaid. “This allows metformin to be safely combined with traditional chemotherapy without a significant increase in side effects such as bone marrow suppression.”

According to the Hoag Cancer Program’s Annual Report in 2011, the NYWCRF’s relative five-year patient survival rates are higher than the United States average.

To learn more about the metformin trial and groundbreaking research performed by the Nancy Yeary Women’s Cancer Research Foundation, or to make contributions please visit https://nancycancer.com/donations/.

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About Nancy Yeary Women’s Cancer Research Foundation

The Nancy Yeary Women’s Cancer Research Foundation originated from the Gynecologic Oncology Associates Charitable Foundation, created by Dr. P. John Micha in 1985. Through a generous grant by Bob Yeary, given in the memory of his wife, Nancy, the foundation has developed into a comprehensive research organization which provides uncompromising continuity of care and superior treatment for all patients afflicted with gynecologic cancer. Ninety percent of all contributions fund clinical research to improve patients’ cure rates and improve upon their lives during and after they have received care. For more information about the Nancy Yeary Women’s Cancer Research Foundation and to join in the fight against women’s cancer, please visit www.NancyCancer.com. Follow us on Facebook at Nancy-Yeary-Womens-Cancer-Research-Foundation.