Trial Outcomes & Findings for Androgen Excess as a Cause for Adipogenic Dysfunction in PCOS Women (NCT NCT01889199)

NCT ID: NCT01889199

Last Updated: 2025-01-10

Results Overview

Lipid content of PCOS subcutaneous (SC) abdominal stem cells during adipocyte maturation in vitro at baseline and after 6 months treatment Lipid staining and immunofluorescence: Newly-formed adipocytes were fixed and stained with Oil-Red-O (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) for 20 min at room temperature to visualize lipid droplets. Nuclei were identified by the nuclear staining marker 4',6-diamidino-2-phenoylidole (DAPI) (1:3000 \[Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA\]). After 4 washes with deionized water, lipid staining was quantified by immunofluorescence. Twenty representative images were taken of fluorescent cells with an EVOS FL Digital Inverted Fluorescence microscope (Westover Scientific Inc, Bothell, WA) and fluorescence units/cell number were quantified using ImageJ software (NIH, Bethesda, MD).

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2

Target enrollment

23 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline, 6 months

Results posted on

2025-01-10

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Sugar Pill
Placebo intervention Placebo: Placebo orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Flutamide
Flutamide 125 mg orally daily for six 28-day cycles. Flutamide: Flutamide 125 mg orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls
Baseline measures assessed on non-PCOS controls
Overall Study
STARTED
6
5
12
Overall Study
Baseline
6
5
12
Overall Study
6-month Assessment on Intervention Arms
6
5
0
Overall Study
COMPLETED
6
5
0
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0
12

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Androgen Excess as a Cause for Adipogenic Dysfunction in PCOS Women

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Sugar Pill
n=6 Participants
Placebo intervention Placebo: Placebo orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Flutamide
n=5 Participants
Flutamide 125 mg orally daily for six 28-day cycles. Flutamide: Flutamide 125 mg orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls
n=12 Participants
Baseline measures assessed on non-PCOS controls
Total
n=23 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
23 Participants
n=4 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
23 Participants
n=4 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=4 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
9 Participants
n=4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
13 Participants
n=4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
8 Participants
n=4 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
6 participants
n=5 Participants
5 participants
n=7 Participants
12 participants
n=5 Participants
23 participants
n=4 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 months

Population: Assessed for participants with PCOS

Lipid content of PCOS subcutaneous (SC) abdominal stem cells during adipocyte maturation in vitro at baseline and after 6 months treatment Lipid staining and immunofluorescence: Newly-formed adipocytes were fixed and stained with Oil-Red-O (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) for 20 min at room temperature to visualize lipid droplets. Nuclei were identified by the nuclear staining marker 4',6-diamidino-2-phenoylidole (DAPI) (1:3000 \[Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA\]). After 4 washes with deionized water, lipid staining was quantified by immunofluorescence. Twenty representative images were taken of fluorescent cells with an EVOS FL Digital Inverted Fluorescence microscope (Westover Scientific Inc, Bothell, WA) and fluorescence units/cell number were quantified using ImageJ software (NIH, Bethesda, MD).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sugar Pill
n=6 Participants
Placebo intervention Placebo: Placebo orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Flutamide
n=5 Participants
Flutamide 125 mg orally daily for six 28-day cycles. Flutamide: Flutamide 125 mg orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls
Baseline measures assessed on non-PCOS controls
Lipid Content of PCOS Subcutaneous (SC) Abdominal Adipocytes Matured in Vitro.
Baseline
2.0 fluorescence units/cell number
Standard Deviation 0.6
5.6 fluorescence units/cell number
Standard Deviation 4.1
Lipid Content of PCOS Subcutaneous (SC) Abdominal Adipocytes Matured in Vitro.
6 months
1.37 fluorescence units/cell number
Standard Deviation 0.7
3.8 fluorescence units/cell number
Standard Deviation 3.9
Lipid Content of PCOS Subcutaneous (SC) Abdominal Adipocytes Matured in Vitro.
Change
-0.6 fluorescence units/cell number
Standard Deviation 0.4
-1.8 fluorescence units/cell number
Standard Deviation 0.6

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 months

Population: Control group was assessed at baseline only

Fasting glucose levels at baseline for all participants, and at 6 months for intervention arms

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sugar Pill
n=6 Participants
Placebo intervention Placebo: Placebo orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Flutamide
n=5 Participants
Flutamide 125 mg orally daily for six 28-day cycles. Flutamide: Flutamide 125 mg orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls
n=12 Participants
Baseline measures assessed on non-PCOS controls
Fasting Glucose Levels
Baseline
85.6 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 4.6
83.9 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 4.8
85.8 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 6.1
Fasting Glucose Levels
6 months
85.3 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 4.8
88.6 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 5.6
Fasting Glucose Levels
Change
-0.3 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 3.9
4.6 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 1.6

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Assessed only for intervention arms of healthy normal-weight PCOS women by NIH criteria

Number of participants with risk of severe depression as determined by 21 questions on a 4-point Likert scale, scores could range from 0-63, with higher score indicating a worse outcome. Scores above 30 indicate Severe depression, and scores above 40 indicate Extreme Depression.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sugar Pill
n=6 Participants
Placebo intervention Placebo: Placebo orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Flutamide
n=5 Participants
Flutamide 125 mg orally daily for six 28-day cycles. Flutamide: Flutamide 125 mg orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls
Baseline measures assessed on non-PCOS controls
Depression as Assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
0 Participants
0 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 months (intervention arms only)

Population: Control group was assessed at baseline only

Percent of abdominal (android) fat by Total body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sugar Pill
n=6 Participants
Placebo intervention Placebo: Placebo orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Flutamide
n=5 Participants
Flutamide 125 mg orally daily for six 28-day cycles. Flutamide: Flutamide 125 mg orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls
n=12 Participants
Baseline measures assessed on non-PCOS controls
Percent Android Fat Mass
Baseline
6.0 percent abdominal (android) fat mass
Standard Deviation 1.4
6.1 percent abdominal (android) fat mass
Standard Deviation 1.8
5.5 percent abdominal (android) fat mass
Standard Deviation 0.5
Percent Android Fat Mass
6 months
6.4 percent abdominal (android) fat mass
Standard Deviation 1.2
5.9 percent abdominal (android) fat mass
Standard Deviation 1.4
Percent Android Fat Mass
Change
0.4 percent abdominal (android) fat mass
Standard Deviation 0.4
-0.3 percent abdominal (android) fat mass
Standard Deviation 0.5

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Control group was assessed at baseline only

Fasting serum low-density lipoprotein levels at baseline and (for intervention arms only) after 6 months

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sugar Pill
n=6 Participants
Placebo intervention Placebo: Placebo orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Flutamide
n=5 Participants
Flutamide 125 mg orally daily for six 28-day cycles. Flutamide: Flutamide 125 mg orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls
n=12 Participants
Baseline measures assessed on non-PCOS controls
Fasting Serum Lipoprotein Levels
Log triglyceride - Baseline
1.9 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.3
1.7 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
1.7 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
Fasting Serum Lipoprotein Levels
Log triglyceride - 6 months
1.9 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.4
1.7 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.2
Fasting Serum Lipoprotein Levels
Log triglyceride - Change
0.0 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
0.0 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
Fasting Serum Lipoprotein Levels
Log non-high-density lipoprotein baseline
2.0 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
2.0 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
1.94 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.10
Fasting Serum Lipoprotein Levels
Log non-high-density lipoprotein - 6 months
2.0 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
2.0 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
Fasting Serum Lipoprotein Levels
Log non-high-density lipoprotein - change
0.0 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.0
-0.1 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
Fasting Serum Lipoprotein Levels
Log low-density lipoprotein - Baseline
1.8 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
2.0 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
1.88 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.10
Fasting Serum Lipoprotein Levels
Log low-density lipoprotein - 6 months
1.8 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
1.9 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1
Fasting Serum Lipoprotein Levels
Log low-density lipoprotein - Change
0.0 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.0
-0.1 (log)mg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.1

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 months

Population: Control group was assessed at baseline only

Fasting serum total cholesterol at baseline and (for intervention arms only) after 6 months

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sugar Pill
n=6 Participants
Placebo intervention Placebo: Placebo orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Flutamide
n=5 Participants
Flutamide 125 mg orally daily for six 28-day cycles. Flutamide: Flutamide 125 mg orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls
n=12 Participants
Baseline measures assessed on non-PCOS controls
Fasting Serum Total Cholesterol
Total cholesterol - Baseline
153.7 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 29.1
184.0 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 27.0
153.0 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 21.7
Fasting Serum Total Cholesterol
Total cholesterol - 6 months
155.3 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 31.6
168.0 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 14.7
Fasting Serum Total Cholesterol
Total cholesterol - Change
1.7 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 9.4
-16.0 mg/dL
Standard Deviation 24.4

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: 6 months

Population: Assessed only for intervention arms of healthy normal-weight PCOS women by NIH criteria

This study carefully considers the safety of low-dose flutamide in examining how hyperandrogenism in PCOS affects ovarian function, subcutaneous fat storage and glucose metabolism. The 125 mg oral dose of flutamide has been specifically chosen because it has not been associated with liver enzyme abnormalities (0%, 62.5-125 mg/day), while being as effective as high dose flutamide in improving androgenic symptoms. Furthermore, in the rare event mild elevation of hepatic enzymes occurs with low-dose flutamide despite its dose-dependency, it is easily detected and reversible.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sugar Pill
n=6 Participants
Placebo intervention Placebo: Placebo orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Flutamide
n=5 Participants
Flutamide 125 mg orally daily for six 28-day cycles. Flutamide: Flutamide 125 mg orally each 28 day cycle for 6 cycles
Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls
Baseline measures assessed on non-PCOS controls
Number of Participants Experiencing Elevated Liver Transaminases (Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase [SGOT]; Serum Glutamic-pyruvic Transaminase [SGPT])
0 Participants
0 Participants

Adverse Events

Sugar Pill

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Flutamide

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Age- and Body Mass Index-matched Controls

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Daniel A. Dumesic, MD

University of California, Los Angeles

Phone: 310-794-5542

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place