Fibrosis-Modulating Effects of Metformin and Pirfenidone in Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if metformin and antifibrotic drugs (pirfenidone) can modulate fibrosis and improve treatment outcomes in patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). The study also aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying their effects on exosome secretion and protein expression. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do metformin and antifibrotic drugs alter exosome secretion and biological activity in OSF cell lines? What molecular pathways are influenced by these drugs in modulating fibrosis? Does treatment with metformin and antifibrotic drugs improve clinical outcomes in OSF patients? Researchers will compare metformin and antifibrotic drug treatment groups to a control group to see if these drugs lead to significant changes in fibrosis-related exosomal protein expression and clinical improvement in OSF patients. Participants will : Undergo in vitro experiments on OSF cell lines to analyze drug effects using qPCR, Western Blot, and LCMS for protein profiling. Participate in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial where they receive metformin, antifibrotic drugs, or a placebo. Undergo clinical evaluations and laboratory tests to assess treatment efficacy. This study aims to develop an affordable and effective fibrosis-targeted therapy for OSF by repurposing metformin, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing the risk of malignant transformation.

Timeline

Start

2025-04-07

Primary completion

2025-12-30

Completion

2025-12-30

Publications

• Background Wang L, Zhong NN, Wang X, Peng B, Chen Z, Wei L, Li B, Li Y, Cheng Y. Metformin Attenuates TGF-beta1-Induced Fibrosis in Salivary Gland: A Preliminary Study. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Nov 13;24(22):16260. doi: 10.3390/ijms242216260.
• Background Huh JY, Lee JH, Song JW. Efficacy and safety of combination therapy with pirfenidone and nintedanib in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Dec 12;14:1301923. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1301923. eCollection 2023.
• Background Chen X, Xie H, Guo J. Drug treatment for oral submucous fibrosis: an update. BMC Oral Health. 2023 Oct 12;23(1):748. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03488-9.
• Background Ahmadpour F, Rasouli HR, Talebi S, Golchin D, Esmailinejad MR, Razie A. Effects of exosomes derived from fibroblast cells on skin wound healing in Wistar rats. Burns. 2023 Sep;49(6):1372-1381. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2023.02.003. Epub 2023 Feb 14.
• Background Abbasi-Malati Z, Azizi SG, Milani SZ, Serej ZA, Mardi N, Amiri Z, Sanaat Z, Rahbarghazi R. Tumorigenic and tumoricidal properties of exosomes in cancers; a forward look. Cell Commun Signal. 2024 Feb 15;22(1):130. doi: 10.1186/s12964-024-01510-3.
• Background Abbasi R, Nejati V, Rezaie J. Exosomes biogenesis was increased in metformin-treated human ovary cancer cells; possibly to mediate resistance. Cancer Cell Int. 2024 Apr 16;24(1):137. doi: 10.1186/s12935-024-03312-6.

Drugs

Indications