A study by Columbia University has revealed that Warfarin, commonly used as a blood thinner, also has the potential to treat various types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer.
The study demonstrated that Warfarin interferes with tumor cells’ ability to dodge self-destruct mechanisms, thereby sensitizing them to cell death.
The research, led by Wei Gu, Ph.D., and published in Cell Metabolism, aimed to explore molecular processes that control ferroptosis, a recently discovered mechanism of cell death that could be used to treat cancer.
The study uncovered a gene, VKORC1L1, which acts as an inhibitor of ferroptosis. Warfarin, already an established VKORC1L1 inhibitor, was found to significantly repress tumor growth in pancreatic cancer cells and mouse models.
Ferroptosis is a form of cell death that occurs in the presence of iron and has become an exciting avenue in cancer research.
Drugs that can induce ferroptosis could be game-changers for treating cancers that are resistant to current therapies.
Key Findings
The gene VKORC1L1 is a potent inhibitor of ferroptosis. The study found that patients with low levels of VKORC1L1 activity generally had a longer lifespan compared to those with higher levels.
Warfarin, by inhibiting VKORC1L1, sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to ferroptosis and significantly repressed tumor growth in mouse models.
The study also found that VKORC1L1 is a direct target of p53, a well-known tumor suppressor gene.
Implications for Treatment
Given that Warfarin is already FDA-approved and extensively used for preventing blood clots in cancer patients, it could be repurposed for cancer treatment quickly.
Data from other studies corroborate the anti-cancer potential of Warfarin, showing that patients with pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancers who received Warfarin survived significantly longer than those who received other anticoagulants.
Future Steps
According to Wei Gu, “Since warfarin has been extensively used in the clinic in cancer patients, we think warfarin could be tested soon as an anticancer drug, particularly for tumors with high levels of VKORC1L1 expression.”
The research opens up new possibilities for treating not just pancreatic and gastric cancers but potentially a wide range of other cancer types as well.
Although promising, these findings need to be confirmed through more extensive clinical trials before Warfarin can be recommended as an anti-cancer drug.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that artificial sweeteners are linked to higher cancer risk, and how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and results showing vitamin D supplements strongly reduces cancer death.
The study was published in Cell Metabolism.
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