A Trial of Pembrolizumab and Metformin Versus Pembrolizumab Alone in Advanced Melanoma (NCT03311308)
Profiling and Reversing Metabolic Insufficiency in the Tumor Microenvironment in Advanced Melanoma: A Trial of Pembrolizumab and Metformin Versus Pembrolizumab Alone in Advanced Melanoma
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination of Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) and the investigational drug, Metformin.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (24 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (18 items).
Location: Univ of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Age range: 18 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Has a current confirmed diagnosis of type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes that has been diagnosed by an HbA1c ≥6.5, or is on any hypoglycemic medications (insulin, metformin, etc). Patients with a screening HbA1c 6.5-7.0 may be included after discussion with the principal investigator. Patients currently on metformin will be excluded.
- Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
- Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis).
- Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients.
- Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 (this excludes patients on anti-PD1) or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
- Has had prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent. Note: Subjects with ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study. If subject received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy.
- Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer.
- Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least two weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for at least 7 days prior to trial treatment. This exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis which is excluded regardless of clinical stability.
- Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxineor physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
- Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis.
- Has an active infection requiring systemic IV antibiotic therapy.
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- Univ of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
- 💵 Compensation indicated: In Arm A, patients will receive pembrolizumab alone.
More studies in Advanced Melanoma
- Memory-Like Natural Killer Cells With Nivolumab and Relatlimab in Advanced or Metastatic Melanoma After Progression on Checkpoint Inhibitors — St Louis, Missouri
- FUSA With Intratumoral PolyICLC in Regionally Advanced Resectable Melanoma — Charlottesville, Virginia
- Tebentafusp Regimen Versus Investigator's Choice in Previously Treated Advanced Melanoma (TEBE-AM) — Phoenix, Arizona
- Using Biomarkers to Help Guide Safe Immunotherapy Discontinuation in Patients With Unresectable Stage IIIB-IV Melanoma, The PET-Stop Trial — Fairhope, Alabama
- Ipilimumab With or Without Sargramostim in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery — Birmingham, Alabama
- Naltrexone and Propranolol Combined With Immunotherapy — New Brunswick, New Jersey
Explore by condition: All Advanced Melanoma clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Review the official NIH record below to find the coordinating site.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.