When people think about cancer, they usually picture a tumor in one part of the body. But what really makes cancer dangerous is when it spreads.
This process is called metastasis. It happens when some cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel to other parts of the body like the lungs, liver, or bones.
These new cancer spots are often harder to treat, and they are the main reason why many people die from cancer.
Doctors usually try to remove the main tumor with surgery. After that, they often give chemotherapy to kill any cancer cells left behind. That’s because even a few leftover cells can grow and cause trouble later.
But there’s a surprising problem: sometimes, surgery and chemotherapy cause swelling in the body, called inflammation. This reaction is meant to help the body heal, but it might also make it easier for cancer cells to grow and spread.
A team of scientists at Emory University wanted to find a way to stop this. They tested a medicine called ketorolac, which is usually used to treat pain.
It’s a type of anti-inflammatory drug that can reduce swelling and pain. It’s already approved for short-term use after surgery. The researchers wondered: what if this drug could also stop cancer from spreading?
In their study, they gave ketorolac to mice before surgery. The results were exciting. The mice that got the drug had fewer cancer cells spreading to other organs.
The drug seemed to wake up the immune system, helping it attack the cancer cells before they could form new tumors. These mice also lived longer. This shows that the medicine didn’t just ease pain — it might also fight cancer in a new way.
This study also helps explain something doctors have seen before. In some breast cancer patients, those who got ketorolac during surgery had lower chances of their cancer coming back. No one knew exactly why until now. This research gives a clear answer: it could be because the drug stopped inflammation and helped the body’s defenses kill the cancer cells.
The researchers didn’t stop there. They tested what would happen if they added two more simple things: low-dose aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids.
Aspirin is another common anti-inflammatory medicine, and omega-3s are nutrients found in fish and nuts that are good for the body. When the scientists used all three together — ketorolac, aspirin, and omega-3 — the mice survived even longer.
This discovery is exciting because it uses medicines we already have. These drugs are not new or expensive. They’re well known and have been used safely for years. The idea of using them in a new way to stop cancer spread is called drug repurposing. It’s a smart way to find new uses for old drugs without having to start from scratch.
The study was led by Dr. Vikas P. Sukhatme and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The team now wants to test this idea in people. They hope to find out if giving ketorolac before surgery can help human cancer patients too.
If it works, this could be a simple and affordable way to stop cancer from spreading. That would be great news for patients everywhere.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about how to fight cancer with these anti-cancer superfoods ,and a berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes and obesity.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to harness the power of anti-cancer foods and supplements, and cancer-fighting foods and recipes.
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