Viagra's Sildenafil Stops Metastases
Research on five million patients shows that the active ingredient in the popular drug can block the supply of cholesterol to tumor cells, a key factor in cancer spread.
Research on five million patients shows that the active ingredient in the popular drug can block the supply of cholesterol to tumor cells, a key factor in cancer spread.
Israeli scientists have published a remarkable discovery that could change the approach to cancer treatment: the active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil, shows potential for slowing down or even preventing metastases. According to the researchers, the key mechanism lies in blocking the supply of cholesterol to tumor cells, a molecule that plays a crucial role in the formation of metastases.
Professor Ayelet Erez from the Weizmann Institute, together with the U.S. National Cancer Institute and the Israeli health system Clalit, conducted the research. The scientists combined several methods: experiments on mice, analysis of human tumor cell cultures, and processing a massive dataset collected over 20 years, covering about five million patients.
According to their findings, sildenafil blocks the transport of cholesterol in cancer cells, making it harder for them to spread to other parts of the body. They also tested the combination with statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and observed an even stronger effect. Statins prevent cancer cells from producing their own cholesterol, which, in combination with sildenafil, creates a double blockade.
The data analysis revealed a clear pattern: patients who took both sildenafil and statins for six months before their cancer diagnosis had the best survival rate. The study mainly focused on breast cancer, melanoma, and lung cancer, and similar results were also observed in colorectal and prostate cancer.
Lead researcher Professor Erez announced that the next step is conducting clinical trials, with a special focus on breast cancer patients. Independent experts believe these results offer the possibility of using existing and easily accessible drugs for cancer treatment, but emphasize that further research and clinical studies are needed before they can be applied in practice, according to The Times of Israel report.
