Viagra May Offer Surprising Benefit, Study Finds
A study published in Cancer Research suggests that sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, may help block cancer cells from metastasizing by limiting their access to cholesterol. Researchers observed higher survival rates in male cancer patients who used the drug, though further clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.
Why it matters
Repurposing existing, well-understood medications for cancer treatment could offer a cost-effective and faster path to new therapeutic options.
Researchers said Viagra’s active ingredient, sildenafil , shows the potential to interfere with cancer cells’ ability to metastasize and travel around the body.
They said sildenafil accomplishes this feat by blocking cancer cells’ access to cholesterol, a building block that allows tumors to metastasize .
The researchers said male participants who’d used Viagra before being diagnosed with cancer had better overall survival rates than those who hadn’t taken the drug. They added that the survival rate was even higher for males who took both Viagra and statins .
Researchers said their study did not specify if Viagra would be more effective against certain types of cancers.
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