Metformin Treatment for Colon Cancer

This is a double-blinded placebo controlled randomized trial examining the effect of metformin in non-diabetic patients with colon cancer on cell growth, immunological and metabolic changes. Patients are randomized to receive metformin 20 days before and 10 days after surgery. Tumor samples are examined for changes in level of cell growth and the composition of tumor cells in the tumor is examined. Blood samples are assessed for immunological markers and insulin resistance is measured. Cell proliferation, migration and adhesion are also examined in vitro by adding plasma obtained from the patients to colon cancer cell lines grown in culture.