Viagra May Reduce Cancer Metastasis, Study Shows
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have discovered that sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, may help restrict cancer metastasis. The drug works by disrupting the ability of cancer cells to process cholesterol, which is essential for their migration and survival.
Why it matters
Repurposing existing, well-understood drugs for cancer treatment could provide a cost-effective and faster path to new therapeutic options.
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Viagra was originally developed to treat high blood pressure and chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, but over the past three decades it has become the world’s best-known therapy for erectile dysfunction. In the future, this blockbuster drug may find yet another use. In a study published recently in Cancer Research , scientists in the lab of Prof. Ayelet Erez at the Weizmann Institute of Science found that sildenafil, Viagra’s active ingredient, may restrict cancer metastasis through a newly discovered biological mechanism.
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