A recent study published in the journal Cancer Research found that sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, may help slow the spread of cancer. The research, led by scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and co-authored by investigators from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, discovered that sildenafil can disrupt cancer cells’ ability to process cholesterol, reducing their ability to migrate and form tumors elsewhere in the body.

How Sildenafil Works

Sildenafil belongs to the class of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which work by increasing levels of cyclic GMP, relaxing smooth muscle, and increasing blood flow in certain tissues. In the context of cancer, sildenafil was found to induce lysosomal cholesterol accumulation in multiple mouse and human cancer models, reducing cholesterol bioavailability and impairing cancer cell migration and metastasis.

The study’s findings are based on laboratory experiments, animal models, human cancer cell cultures, and an analysis of health records from approximately 5 million members of Clalit Health Services in Israel. The analysis showed significantly improved survival among sildenafil users, with a dose-dependent additive benefit when combined with statins.

Implications and Future Research

While the study’s findings are promising, more research is needed to determine whether sildenafil can safely and effectively prevent metastasis in people. The National Cancer Institute has emphasized that the results are from preclinical models and retrospective observational data, and that large randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of sildenafil in preventing cancer metastasis.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.