ArticlePilot and feasibility studies2025
The Prostate cancer-Exercise and Metformin randomised controlled feasibility Trial (Pre-EMpT) in men following active surveillance, radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy.
Article in Pilot and feasibility studies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Lifestyle Interventions in Patients in Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- The impact of different exercise modes on prostate cancer: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundModerate to vigorous physical activity and metformin are associated in epidemiological studies with reduced biochemical recurrence and mortality in men with prostate cancer. This study assessed the feasibility of a home-based physical activity and/or metformin intervention in men with non-metastatic prostate cancer following radical treatment (surgery or radiotherapy) or active surveillance.
methodsA 2 × 2 factorial design randomised men into one of four groups for 6 months: (1) physical activity (defined as brisk walking ≥ 30 min for ≥ 5 days per week, aiming for ≥ 10,000 steps a day); (2) metformin (one 500 mg slow-release tablet daily); (3) physical activity and metformin; and (4) control. Men were recruited from a single tertiary referral centre in the South West of England, UK, (September 2018-March 2020 which terminated slightly early due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Co-primary outcomes were rates of randomisation and adherence which was defined as men brisk walking ≥30 minutes on at least 5 days with 10,000 steps daily (measured over one week 6-months after randomisation) with ≥ 60% adherence to metformin between 3- and 6 months post-randomisation using returned pill count. Secondary outcomes included self-reported adverse events and physical activity, feasibility of wearing activity monitors and questionnaire completion.
resultsIn total, 295 men were eligible and 110 were randomised (37.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 31.8 to 43.1). Adherence to the physical activity and metformin interventions was 46.9% (95% CI 32.5 to 62.0) and 47.1% (95% CI 32.9 to 61.5) respectively. Adherence was > 60% for both the physical activity and metformin interventions on a complete case basis. Adverse events were infrequent (n = 7) across randomised groups. Completion of self-reported measures of physical activity, urinary incontinence, sexual function, quality of life and stages of change was over 80%. Step counts were not higher in men wearing activity monitors that alerted them about their step counts and sedentary behaviour. Retention over 6 months was 91.3% (95% CI 84.2 to 96.0). Follow up and intervention prompts were impacted by the pandemic.
conclusionHome-based physical activity and metformin interventions show some promise for men with prostate cancer following radical treatment or active surveillance.
trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN13543667. Registered 2 August 2018, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN13543667.
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