Beyond diabetes: The role of metformin in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Usage of metformin is associated with improved survival in lung, breast and prostate cancer, and metformin has been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth and proliferation in in vitro studies. Given the lack of clinical data on metformin use in patients with bladder cancer, we aimed to evaluate the role of metformin in their oncological outcomes. METHODS: Medication use from a prospectively maintained database of 122 patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with intravesical Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), who were recruited under a randomised, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial, was collected and analysed. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). RESULTS: At a median follow-up duration of 102 (range 3-357) months, 53 (43.4%) patients experienced disease recurrence and 21 (17.2%) experienced disease progression. There was no significant difference in mortality between patients with diabetes mellitus and those without. There was significant difference in OS among patients without diabetes mellitus, patients with diabetes mellitus on metformin and patients with diabetes mellitus not on metformin (p = 0.033); patients with diabetes mellitus on metformin had the best prognosis. Metformin use was associated with significantly lower DSS (p = 0.042). Other oral hypoglycaemic agents, insulin or statins were not associated with disease recurrences or progression. CONCLUSION: Metformin use was associated with improved oncological outcomes in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with intravesical BCG. Prospective studies with larger patient populations are needed to validate the role of metformin as potential therapy for bladder cancer. © Singapore Medical Association