Most cancer deaths happen not because of the main tumor, but because cancer cells spread to other parts of the body. This process is called metastasis. When cancer spreads, it becomes much harder to treat.
After surgery to remove a tumor, doctors often use chemotherapy to kill any tiny clusters of cancer cells that may be left behind. However, chemotherapy can sometimes cause inflammation, which might actually help cancer cells spread even more.
Now, researchers from Emory University have found a new clue that could change how we fight cancer. They discovered that a common anti-inflammatory drug called ketorolac might help stop cancer from spreading if it is given before surgery.
Their study showed that ketorolac can activate the body’s immune system, making it better at destroying cancer cells that might try to travel to other parts of the body.
Ketorolac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has been approved by the FDA for short-term pain relief. It’s often used after surgeries for pain management.
However, doctors don’t use it as much as other painkillers because of concerns about side effects like stomach bleeding or kidney problems. Despite these concerns, the new study found that ketorolac had a powerful effect in preventing the spread of cancer in mice.
The researchers also found that when they combined ketorolac with small doses of aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids, survival rates in the mice improved even more. This suggests that a combination of medicines might be an even better way to stop cancer from spreading after surgery.
This finding helps explain why earlier studies showed that breast cancer patients who received ketorolac during surgery had fewer problems with cancer returning later. Scientists believe that using ketorolac at the right time could make a big difference by strengthening the body’s natural defenses when they are most needed.
The study, led by Dr. Vikas P. Sukhatme, was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. It points to the exciting idea that we might be able to use drugs we already have in new ways to fight cancer more effectively.
The researchers say more studies are needed before ketorolac can be widely used for this purpose in people. They want to make sure it is safe and that it really works the same way in human cancer patients as it did in mice. They are now exploring how ketorolac might work alongside other anti-cancer treatments to improve patient outcomes even further.
This research shows the growing interest in repurposing existing medicines to fight cancer. Instead of creating brand-new drugs, which can take many years and cost a lot of money, scientists are finding that some familiar drugs might have hidden powers against cancer when used in new ways.
If future studies confirm these results, ketorolac could offer a low-cost, widely available tool to help stop cancer from spreading. This could make a big difference for many patients after surgery and could lead to better long-term survival.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about common drugs for inflammation may help kill cancer, and statin drugs can starve cancer cells to death.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about these two things are key to surviving cancer and results showing common Indian fruit may slow down cancer growth.
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