In a new study, researchers found that an anti-inflammatory drug called ketorolac could help improve survival in cancer metastasis if given before surgery.
The therapy can trigger the immune system to eliminate metastatic cancer cells.
The finding also explains the anti-metastatic effects of ketorolac, previously observed in human breast cancer surgery.
The research was done by a team from Emory University.
Most cancer-related deaths come from metastases, the spread of cancer cells from a primary tumor to surrounding tissues or distant organs.
The cells that seed metastases are often in microscopic clusters and a surgeon can’t see them.
Chemotherapy is often given after or prior to surgery to eradicate these cancer cells in the hopes of preventing cancer recurrence.
However, chemotherapy sometimes can cause inflammation, which boosts metastasis.
In the study, the team examined the anti-metastatic effects of ketorolac. The drug is an inexpensive NSAID.
it is only approved by the FDA for short-term pain management due to concerns about its side effects.
The researchers found that the drug could eradicate cancer metastasis in mice and extend the survival of animals.
Moreover, when ketorolac was combined with low dose aspirin and omega 3 fatty acid, the survival rate increased.
The findings show that drug ketorolac could help stop the spread of cancer.
The team hopes their new results can help develop a better treatment to prevent cancer from spreading in human.
Now they are planning to see how these approaches could be combined with other anti-cancer therapies.
The senior author of the study is Vikas P. Sukhatme, MD, ScD, dean of the School of Medicine.
The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Copyright © 2019 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
