What does science say about Metformin and Prostate cancer?
- We don’t say yes or no. We show what has been studied.
- Working in a lab or in animals does not mean it works in people.
- Don’t stop or change your treatment without talking to your doctor.
What has been studied
- Lab studies (cells)Tests on cells in a dish.Source: PubMed · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed42studies
- Animal studiesTests in mice, rats or other animals.Source: PubMed · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed45studies
- Studies in peoplePublished studies with human participants.Source: PubMed · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed126studies
- Registered trials in peopleTrials entered in a public registry, whatever their result.ClinicalTrials.gov: 9 · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at ClinicalTrials.govEU CTIS: 0 · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at EU CTISBy phase:Phase 1/2 (2)Phase 2 (2)Phase 1 (2)Phase 3 (1)Early Phase 1 (1)Phase 2/3 (1)By status:Running, not recruiting (4)Stopped early (2)Recruiting (2)Completed (1)Countries (6):United States (5)Canada (1)Switzerland (1)China (1)France (1)United Kingdom (1)With a linked publication (results): 2 of 9The registries do not tell us here whether results were posted; a linked publication is shown instead.9trials
- Approved treatmentApproved by a medicines regulator for this disease.No
Examples of what we found
The trials
Early Phase 1
Pragmatic Trial of Metformin for Glucose Intolerance or Increased BMI in Prostate Cancer Patients
Running, not recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT05515978Phase 1/2
COAST Therapy in Advanced Solid Tumors and Prostate Cancer
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT05036226Phase 2
The Effect of Metformin in Patients With Newly Diagnosed mHSPC
Running, not recruiting · China
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT04925063Phase 1/2
Relapse in Previously Irradiated Prostate Bed : Stereotactic Ablative Reirradiation Potentiated by Metformin
Running, not recruiting · France
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT04536805Phase 2/3
Systemic Therapy in Advancing or Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Evaluation of Drug Efficacy
Running, not recruiting · Switzerland, United Kingdom
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00268476
Thinking of paying for it? Read this first
- Ask for published results. Stories, thank-you letters and "patients report" are not results. Ask where the results were published.
- Know what you pay for. Ask in writing: what exactly is included, who gets the money, and what happens if you stop.
- Ask your own doctor first. Some products interfere with chemotherapy, radiation or other medicines. Your treating doctor can check this.
- Do not stop standard treatment for it. Do not stop or delay your treatment without talking to your care team.
Other treatments people ask about
- Cannabis and cannabinoids (CBD, THC)Step: Large trials
- Curcumin (turmeric)Step: Large trials
- Fasting and fasting-mimicking dietStep: Large trials
- High-dose vitamin CStep: Large trials
- HyperthermiaStep: Large trials
- MelatoninStep: Large trials
- MetforminStep: Large trials
- StatinsStep: Large trials
- Vitamin DStep: Large trials
- Mistletoe extractStep: First trials in people
- FenbendazoleStep: Reports in people
- IvermectinStep: Reports in people
- Ketogenic dietStep: Reports in people
- Amygdalin (laetrile, "vitamin B17")Step: Animal studies only
- Dichloroacetate (DCA)Step: Animal studies only
- MebendazoleStep: Animal studies only
Not medical advice. Talk to the care team before changing treatment.