Most cancer deaths occur because of metastasis, the process where cancer cells spread from the original tumor to other parts of the body. These tiny clusters of cancer cells are often too small for surgeons to see or remove, which is why chemotherapy is commonly used after surgery to eliminate any remaining cells.
However, chemotherapy can sometimes cause inflammation, which may actually help cancer spread.
A study from Emory University suggests that an anti-inflammatory drug called ketorolac might help stop cancer metastasis if given before surgery. Researchers found that this drug can activate the immune system, helping it destroy metastatic cancer cells.
This could explain previous findings showing that ketorolac had anti-metastatic effects in breast cancer patients who received it during surgery.
Ketorolac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is already approved by the FDA for short-term pain relief. However, it is not widely used because of concerns about side effects. Despite this, the study showed that in mice, ketorolac helped eliminate cancer metastases and increased survival rates.
The research also found that when ketorolac was combined with low-dose aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids, survival rates improved even more. This suggests that a combination approach could be an effective way to prevent cancer from spreading.
The scientists hope their findings will lead to better treatments for preventing metastasis in human cancer patients. They are now looking at how ketorolac could be used alongside other anti-cancer therapies to improve outcomes.
This study, led by Dr. Vikas P. Sukhatme and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, highlights the potential of repurposing existing drugs to fight cancer in new ways. More research is needed, but these findings could offer a promising new strategy to stop cancer from spreading.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about the link between dairy food and certain cancers and this common food chemicals may cause cancer.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies that plant-based diets may reduce risk of colorectal cancer in men, and Low-fat diet may help stop cancer growth.
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