Most cancer deaths don’t happen because of the original tumor, but because cancer cells move to other parts of the body. This spreading is called metastasis. Once cancer spreads, it becomes much harder to treat.
Doctors often use chemotherapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may still be in the body. But chemotherapy can also cause inflammation, which might actually help cancer spread.
Now, scientists from Emory University have discovered something that could help stop cancer from spreading. They found that a common anti-inflammatory drug called ketorolac might be useful if given before surgery.
Ketorolac is already used in hospitals to manage pain after surgery. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) approved by the FDA for short-term use. But it’s not used as often as other painkillers because it can cause side effects like stomach bleeding or kidney problems.
Despite these concerns, the new study showed that ketorolac had a strong effect in stopping cancer from spreading in mice. It helped the body’s immune system work better by attacking cancer cells before they could move to other parts of the body.
Even more promising, the researchers found that combining ketorolac with small amounts of aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids helped mice live longer. This suggests that using several simple medicines together might give better protection against cancer coming back after surgery.
This new research helps explain older studies that showed breast cancer patients who were given ketorolac during surgery were less likely to have the cancer return. Scientists now believe that timing matters. Giving ketorolac right before surgery might help boost the immune system when it’s most needed.
The research was led by Dr. Vikas P. Sukhatme and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. It shows that we might be able to fight cancer better using medicines we already have.
Still, more research is needed. The scientists want to test ketorolac further to make sure it’s safe and works the same way in humans as it did in mice. They are also studying how this drug might work together with other cancer treatments.
This study is part of a growing trend in science where old medicines are being tested for new uses. Instead of creating completely new drugs, which takes a long time and costs a lot of money, researchers are looking at how existing drugs might help in unexpected ways.
If future studies confirm these findings in people, ketorolac could become an affordable and easy-to-use tool to help stop cancer from spreading after surgery. That could save lives and help many patients live longer and healthier lives.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about a new method to treat cancer effectively, and this low-dose, four-drug combo may block cancer spread.
For more information about cancer prevention, please see recent studies about nutrient in fish that can be a poison for cancer, and results showing this daily vitamin is critical to cancer prevention.
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