Title

Improving the Treatment for Women With Early Stage Cancer of the Uterus
A Phase II Randomised Clinical Trial of Mirena® ± Metformin ± Weight Loss Intervention in Patients With Early Stage Cancer of the Endometrium
  • Phase

    Phase 2
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Status

    Active, not recruiting
  • Study Participants

    165
Currently the standard treatment for early stage endometrial cancer or endometrial hyperplasia with atypia is a total hysterectomy (an operation to remove the uterus) and removal of both ovaries. While highly effective, this surgery carries significant side effects for:

young women who still wish to have children and would lose fertility; and
women with one or more disorders (or diseases) in addition to the early stage endometrial cancer or endometrial hyperplasia with atypia and/or morbid obesity who are at risk for surgical complications making surgery unsafe.

This study will access a new approach to the treatment of endometrial cancer to spare women of having to undergo major surgery that may be unwanted or unnecessary.

Mirena is approved in Australia for contraception, to treat heavy bleeding, and to prevent thickening of the lining of the uterus (endometrial hyperplasia) during oestrogen replacement therapy (HRT). However it is not approved to treat early stage endometrial cancer or endometrial hyperplasia with atypia. This research project will test to see if Mirena is an effective treatment for early stage endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia with atypia.

Metformin is approved in Australia to treat Diabetes. However it is not approved to treat early stage endometrial cancer or endometrial hyperplasia with atypia. Therefore, it is an experimental treatment for early stage endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia with atypia. This means that it must be tested to see if it is an effective treatment for early stage endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia with atypia.

Weight loss interventions are feasible and safe, and already being implemented by gynaecologic oncologist to make women eligible for surgery. Weight loss of 7% body weight induces a large biological effect (for example reduces incidence of diabetes by 58%, and hypertension by 26%).
Study Started
Dec 31
2012
Primary Completion
Oct 03
2022
Study Completion
Dec 31
2023
Anticipated
Last Update
Apr 18
2023

Drug Levonorgestrel

Intrauterine device

  • Other names: Mirena

Drug Metformin

oral medication

Mirena + Metformin Experimental

Metformin tablets, 500mg twice daily orally, 6 months Levonorgestrel (Mirena®) 52mg Intrauterine drug delivery system, 6 months

Mirena Experimental

Levonorgestrel (Mirena®) 52mg Intrauterine drug delivery system, 6 months

Mirena + Weight Loss Intervention Experimental

Levonorgestrel (Mirena®) 52mg Intrauterine drug delivery system, 6 months Weight Loss Intervention will be delivered via Weight Watchers

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Females with a BMI > 30 kg/m2 wishing to retain fertility or females who are at high risk of surgical complications due to co-morbidities or obesity
Over 18 years of age at time of randomisation
Histologically confirmed complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia or grade 1 endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma on a curette or endometrial biopsy
CT or MRI scan of pelvis, abdomen and chest (or chest X-Ray) suggesting the absence of extrauterine disease
Myometrial invasion on MRI of not more than 50%, for women with histologically confirmed Endometrial Cancer only (for women who are unable to fit into an MRI machine inclusion into trial is at investigators discretion)
No lymph vascular invasion on curetting or pipelle, if able to be assessed on sample
Serum CA125 ≤ 30 U/mL
No hypersensitivity or contraindications for Mirena
Ability to comply with endometrial biopsies at specified intervals
Negative serum or urine pregnancy test in pre-menopausal women and women < 2 years after the onset of menopause
Creatinine < 150µmol/L (1.7 mg/dL) to be randomised into Mirena + Metformin arm (can still be eligible to be randomised to Mirena only or Mirena + Weight Loss, see section 5.4 Other Eligibility Criteria Considerations)

Exclusion Criteria:

ECOG performance status > 3
Grade 1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium with myometrial invasion deeper than 50% on MRI or any patients with grade 2 or grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma
Histological (cell) type other than endometrioid adenocarcinoma (sarcomas or high risk endometrial e.g. papillary serous, clear cell)
Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during trial period
Has had prior treatment or undergoing current treatment for EAC or EHA
Patients with a history of pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy
Unwilling to have additional endometrial biopsies or curettes and unable to attend three monthly clinical assessments
Unable to provide informed consent
Unable or unwilling to complete questionnaires
Evidence of extrauterine spread on medical imaging
Congenital or acquired uterine anomaly which distorts the uterine cavity
Acute pelvic inflammatory disease
Conditions associated with increased susceptibility to infections with microorganisms (e.g., AIDS, leukaemia, IV drug abuse) according to the patients Medical History
Genital actinomycosis
Current other cancer, except low grade malignancies that do not require any systemic treatment or treatment to the pelvis
Breastfeeding mothers
Mirena inserted greater than 12 weeks before randomisation/enrolment
Previous use of Mirena within the last 5 years from randomisation/enrolment
Contraindications to both Metformin and weight loss
No Results Posted