Castration Compared to Castration Plus Metformin as First Line Treatment for Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

(Eligible subjects must meet one of the inclusion criteria 1-3 and all of items 4-6)

1. Men with metastatic prostate cancer that require castration therapy with either using an LHRH analogue or surgical castration are eligible. Complete androgen blockade using anti-androgen therapy prior to castration or up to 4 weeks following castration therapy is permitted to prevent disease flare. Thereafter anti-androgen therapy may continue or be discontinued based on treating physicians preference.

   OR

2. Any men with prostate cancer who are candidates for castration therapy despite no evidence of definite metastatic disease including patient with biochemical failure or 'rising PSA' are also permitted to enter study provided castration therapy is planned for a minimum of a year. Patients with biochemical failure prior to enrolment should have also have already received appropriate salvage therapy. Men with prostate cancer who have already started castration therapy are also permitted to enter study provided castration therapy was initiated within one month of study entry.

   OR

3. Men with prostate cancer previously treated with castration therapy for management of localized prostate cancer in the adjuvant setting or in combination with radiation therapy are permitted to enter study provided they currently have known metastatic disease and have non-castrate testosterone levels (Testosterone > 50 ng/dL).
4. An ECOG performance status of 0-2.
5. Patients will need to have documentation of metastatic disease in bone and/or soft tissue, and a baseline PSA of ≥ 5 ng/ml. If patients have already had castration therapy, their baseline PSA value will be reflective of the value prior to castration. Patients with biochemical failures, with rising PSA (baseline PSA does not need to be ≥ 5 nglml to be eligible), without metastatic disease are also eligible if castration therapy is indicated for minimum of 7 months and for these patients any PSA value is permitted.
6. Patients must have provided informed consent, be willing to have blood specimens taken, and exhibit no severe other medical or psychiatric problems.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with severe medical or psychiatric diseases are INELIGIBLE. (Patients with stable chronic diseases such as high cholesterol or hypertension ARE eligible.) Examples of problems that would make patients INELIGIBLE include severe heart failure, or hypoxia due to severe lung disease.
2. Patients with clinical or biochemical evidence of renal failure or liver failure are INELIGIBLE. Creatinine and bilirubin needs to be less than or equal to 1.3~up per limit of normal (ULN), and ASTIALT less than or equal to 2.5 x ULN unless liver metastasis is present then up to 5 X ULN permitted).
3. Patients already receiving metformin or anti-diabetic medications are INELIGIBLE.
4. If any patient develops symptomatic diabetes requiring drug therapy, he must receive such a therapy, which may include metformin. This must be documented, and the patient will not continue on the study.
5. Patients with important infections requiring antibiotics are INELIGIBLE, but patients who acquire minor infections while on the study may remain on the study.
6. Alcohol abuse problems make patients INELIGIBLE. Patients need to be consuming less than or equal to 14 units of alcohol weekly.
7. Patients with history or evidence of lactic acidosis or metabolic acidosis will be excluded.