Loss of external funding

Study the effect of metformin when added to definitive locoregional radiotherapy on locoregional control and relapse rate in stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving sequential chemoradiotherapy. Try to identify subsets of patients who derive maximum benefit of adding metformin to radiotherapy using innovative biomarkers.

The administration of oral metformin during radiotherapy is thought to decrease the hypoxic fraction of tumour cells, improving radiosensitivity and promoting apoptosis, resulting in better outcome. This hypothesis will be evaluated in a trial with randomized design. All patients willing to participate will receive definitive radiotherapy, either in combination with metformin (arm C) or without metformin (arm B). Patients who refuse to participate in the randomized part can be included in the observational arm of the study (arm A). In addition, the validated biomarker of tumour hypoxia (18F-HX4 PET/CT scintigraphy (18F-flortanidazole positron emission computed tomography) and biomarkers of resistance, apoptosis and glucose metabolism will be evaluated for their potential predictive value.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form.
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
• Ability to take oral medication and willing to adhere to the RADFORMIN-regimen.
• Male or female, ≥ 18 years of age.
• Histological or cytological proven stage III NSCLC after adequate staging with at least 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) PET/CT, contrast enhanced CT-thorax and contrast-enhanced CT/MRI brain. (According to 8th edition of TNM classification (= tumor, node, metastasis))
• Absence of diabetes, (diabetes is defined as fasting plasma glucose >126 mg/dL or random plasma glucose >200 mg/dL).
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score (= World Health Organization (WHO) score) of 0-1.
• Adequate hematologic, hepatic and renal function as clinically acceptable in the opinion of the Primary Investigator.
• Adequate pulmonary function in order to be administered definitive radiotherapy. With Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) > 1.2 litres per second or more than 50% of predicted, and diffusion capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) > 40% predicted. (Values without administration of medical bronchodilation. In case of Tiffeneau < 70% bronchodilation will be administered)
• Having received at least 2 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. This according to institutional standards and without progression (on a restaging CT-scan within 3 weeks after day 1 of the last given cycle, according to RECIST criteria).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current use of metformin, insulin or other oral antidiabetic drugs (thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas, mitiglinides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, incretin mimetics, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, amylin analogues, sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2)-inhibitors) for any reason.
• Evidence for metastatic disease.
• Conditions associated with increased risk of metformin-associated lactic acidosis: New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure, history of acidosis of any type, known kidney injury or disease, alcoholic liver disease or habitual intake of 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day.
• Known pregnancy or lactating female patients.
• Known allergic reactions to components of metformin.
• Prior invasive malignancy within the past year (in remission, without evidence for current active disease and without maintenance therapy). Except non-melanomatous skin cancer, non-invasive carcinoma in-situ of the breast, oral cavity or cervix.
• Known acquired immune deficiency syndrome.