Metformin combined with progesterone improves efficacy and reduces adverse reactions in early endometrial cancer

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical value of metformin combined with progesterone in the treatment of early endometrial cancer (EC).

A retrospective study was conducted involving 60 patients with early EC. According to the different treatment regimens, the patients were divided into the monotherapy group (n = 29, receiving progesterone monotherapy) and the combined treatment group (n = 31, receiving metformin combined with progesterone therapy). The clinical efficacy, serum tumor marker levels, body mass index, incidence of adverse reactions, and prognosis were compared between the two groups.

Compared to the monotherapy group, the combined treatment group had a higher total effective rate (96.77% vs. 72.41%), lower levels of connective tissue growth factor, angiogenin-2, carbohydrate antigen 125, vascular endothelial growth factor, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and matrix metalloproteinase 9, and a lower BMI (between-group effect: F = 24.710, time effect: F = 135.200, interaction effect: F = 20.490, all P < 0.001). The total incidence of adverse reactions was lower in the combined treatment group (6.45% vs. 31.03%), and there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups (χ² = 0.004, P = 0.953).

Metformin combined with progesterone exerts excellent clinical efficacy in the treatment of early EC. It can significantly reduce serum tumor marker levels and BMI, and decrease the occurrence of adverse reactions.