Sildenafil, a drug known for treating erectile dysfunction, may find a new application in oncology. Researchers reached this conclusion after discovering that the active ingredient disrupts cholesterol transport within tumor cells, thereby reducing their ability to spread throughout the body. The study’s findings have been published in the scientific journal Cancer Research.
The researchers note that malignant cells differ from healthy ones by more than just their rapid rate of division; to grow and spread, they reprogram their metabolism using specific biochemical mechanisms. Cholesterol is a key element in this process, essential for forming cell membranes and maintaining various internal functions. The researchers hypothesized that disrupting its intracellular transport could weaken the tumor.
Their focus turned to sildenafil, a drug that blocks the PDE5 enzyme and increases levels of the signaling molecule cGMP. Beyond its well-known effects on blood vessels, scientists identified another mechanism of action: elevated cGMP levels slow the movement of cholesterol within the cell by interacting with the protein responsible for its transport. Laboratory experiments on human and mouse cells demonstrated that under these conditions, tumor cells struggle to spread and form metastases.
To validate these findings outside the laboratory, the team analyzed medical data from approximately five million patients within Israel’s largest healthcare system. They found that cancer patients taking sildenafil lived longer, on average, than patients with similar diagnoses who did not use the drug. The most pronounced association was observed in individuals taking both sildenafil and statins (drugs used to lower cholesterol); this group showed a lower risk of death from cancer.
However, the authors emphasize that these findings do not indicate that sildenafil can cure cancer. An analysis of medical records reveals only a statistical association; it does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. Survival rates could have been influenced by patient age, general health, specific treatment regimens, and other factors.
Researchers believe this work opens up a new avenue for studying ways to target tumors by disrupting cholesterol metabolism. However, before such an approach can be adopted in clinical practice, further research and clinical trials are required. Scientists need to determine which types of cancer would respond best to this mechanism, establish safe dosages, and confirm whether the drug can genuinely extend patient survival.
About the Author
