Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40468055›Full record

ArticleEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2025

Effect of metformin on hypoxia-associated gene expression in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma in non-diabetic patients - a prospective window of opportunity study.

Simon A Mueller, Olgun Elicin, Bastien Monney, Tilman Rau, Alan Dal Pra, Ludwig Sachs, Irene Centeno Ramos, Erik Vassella, Florian Dammann, Francesca Caparrotti and 4 more

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Article in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Simon A Mueller *Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. simon.mueller@usz.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9318-7270
Olgun Elicin *Department of Radiation Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6996-0646
Bastien MonneyDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-1830-4675
Tilman RauInstitute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1251-950X
Alan Dal PraDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Health System, Coral Gables, FL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1648-6557
Ludwig SachsDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Irene Centeno RamosDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Health System, Coral Gables, FL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-6450-7757
Erik VassellaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Health System, Coral Gables, FL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7982-8713
Florian DammannInterventional and Pediatric Radiology, University Institute of Diagnostic, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Francesca CaparrottiGénérale-Beaulieu Swiss Oncology Network, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2011-8615
Andreas LimacherDepartment of Clinical Research, CTU Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9094-9476
Lluís NisaDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0632-1676
Matthias S Dettmer *Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0948-1392
Roland Giger *Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5574-3210

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeResearch suggests that metformin may reduce tumor hypoxia, rendering it a potential radiosensitizer. This study investigated metformin's effect on hypoxia-associated gene expression in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC).

methodsIn this prospective trial, non-diabetic patients with OCSCC scheduled for curative surgery received preoperative metformin for 10 to 14 days. Tumor biopsies were taken before and after metformin treatment. Gene expression profiling was performed using RNASeq, emphasizing on hypoxia-associated signaling pathways.

resultsFifteen patients of 25 enrolled patients completed the study protocol and passed quality checks. No significant difference in gene expression was observed after adjustment for multiple testing. No significant changes were found in the hypoxia-associated hypoxia-inducible factor 1- alpha (HIF1A) pathway or in other signaling pathways associated with metformin reported in the literature.

conclusionThis study does not support the hypothesis that metformin improves tumor hypoxia in OCSCC after 10 to 14 days of treatment.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Squamous CellHypoglycemic AgentsMetforminMouth NeoplasmsTumor HypoxiaAgedFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansHypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha SubunitMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesHIF1A protein, humanHypoglycemic AgentsHypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha SubunitMetforminGene expression profilingMetforminOral squamous cell carcinomaProspective studiesRadiation-Sensitizing agentsTumor hypoxia

Identifiers

PMID40468055
PMCPMC12423204

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.