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An international research team has identified a potential cancer-fighting property in Viagra that extends far beyond its well-known use for erectile dysfunction. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, working alongside researchers from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, found that the medication’s active ingredient sildenafil may help prevent tumors from spreading throughout the body.
The investigation, published by the American Association for Cancer Research, analyzed data from multiple sources including human and mouse cancer cells, genetic experiments, and two decades of health records from 5 million members of Clalit Health Services, Israel’s largest nonprofit healthcare provider. The research team, led by Dr. Yarden Ariav under the direction of professor Ayelet Erez, examined how genes, proteins, fats, cholesterol and cellular energy function in cancer progression.
The key finding centers on how sildenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor, interferes with cholesterol regulation inside cells. By blocking the phosphodiesterase type 5 enzyme and increasing a signaling molecule called cGMP, the drug reduces cholesterol availability that cancer cells need to break away from primary tumors and metastasize. Researchers noted that cancer cells are particularly vulnerable to this cholesterol depletion.
The study suggests that combining Viagra-related medications with statins—drugs that lower cholesterol—could potentially slow cancer spread by cutting off tumor cells’ access to both existing and newly produced cholesterol. Professor Erez emphasized that the findings reveal how cancer biology depends not only on tumor mutations but also on a patient’s metabolic state and existing medications.
The researchers acknowledged limitations in their work, noting that results from mouse models do not always translate directly to human treatment. Additionally, the human evidence remains observational, demonstrating association rather than proven cause-and-effect relationships. Viatris, the manufacturer of Viagra, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the findings.
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