Effect of Metformin on Biomarkers of Colorectal Tumor Cell Growth

Exclusion Criteria

• •Previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type 1 or Type 2.
• •Currently taking biguanides, sulfonylurea drugs, thiazolidinediones, insulin, or mTOR inhibitors or having taken any of these medications during the 12 weeks prior to study participation.
• •Currently taking any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin and unable to stop such medications due to a present medical condition.
• •Clinical symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction or bleeding and consideration for immediate surgery or immediate neoadjuvant chemoradiation.
• •Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), Putz-Jeghers disease, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease.
• •Pregnant or lactating.
• •History of lactic or other metabolic acidosis.
• •Known hypersensitivity to Metformin.
• •Uncontrolled infectious disease.
• •History of Positivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• •History of congestive heart failure requiring pharmacologic treatment.
• •History of excessive alcohol abuse, defined by a habitual intake of more than three drinks daily.
• •Previous or concurrent malignancies, except non-melanoma skin cancers, unless curatively treated and with no evidence of recurrence for \> 5 years, with the exception of prior CRC which has been treated and the patient has been in remission and the current primary tumor is a second CRC.
• •Unable to swallow and retain oral medication.
• •Mal-absorption syndrome, disease affecting gastrointestinal function, or previous resection of the stomach or small bowel.
• •Current use of medications for weight loss.
• •Currently taking cimetidine, thiazide diuretics or cephalexin. If a patient needs some of these agents, alternative agents should be substituted.
• •If the physician feels that the candidate is not suitable for the study, he/she will be excluded.