Cancer becomes most dangerous when it spreads from its original location to other parts of the body. This spreading process is called metastasis, and it is the reason why many cancer patients lose their lives.
Even when a tumor is removed through surgery, tiny clusters of cancer cells can remain hidden in the body. These cells are often too small to detect with scans or to remove during an operation. Over time, they can grow into new tumors in other organs.
Because of this risk, doctors often give chemotherapy after surgery. The goal is to destroy any remaining cancer cells before they can grow again. Chemotherapy can be life‑saving, but it also affects healthy cells and can cause side effects.
One of its effects is inflammation, which is the body’s natural reaction to injury or stress. Inflammation helps healing in many situations, but in cancer, it can sometimes create conditions that allow leftover cancer cells to survive and spread.
Researchers at Emory University wanted to understand whether reducing inflammation at the right moment could help prevent metastasis.
They focused on a drug called ketorolac. This medicine has been used for many years to treat pain, especially after surgery. It belongs to a group of drugs known as anti‑inflammatory medicines, which reduce swelling and pain in the body.
In their study, the scientists tested whether giving ketorolac before surgery could protect the body from the spread of cancer cells. They discovered that the drug did more than reduce pain.
It appeared to activate the immune system, which is the body’s natural defense against disease. A stronger immune response helped attack and destroy tiny cancer cells that might otherwise escape and grow later.
Earlier research had hinted at this effect. Some studies found that breast cancer patients who received ketorolac around the time of surgery had lower rates of cancer returning in other parts of the body.
The new research helps explain why this might happen. By calming harmful inflammation and boosting immune activity, the drug may create a less friendly environment for cancer cells trying to survive.
Ketorolac is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which means doctors know a great deal about how it works and how safe it is when used properly.
However, it is not commonly used for long periods because it can have side effects, especially if taken for too long. The researchers believe that short‑term use around the time of surgery could still provide benefits without causing serious harm.
The team tested their ideas in laboratory mice with cancer. Mice that received ketorolac before surgery lived longer and had less cancer spread compared to those that did not receive the drug.
This result suggests that the timing of treatment may be very important. Giving the drug before surgery may prepare the body to fight cancer cells released during the operation.
The scientists also explored whether combining ketorolac with other simple treatments could improve results. They added low doses of aspirin and omega‑3 fatty acids, which are nutrients found in fish oil known for their anti‑inflammatory properties. The combination worked even better. More mice survived, and fewer developed new tumors.
These findings are exciting because they suggest that medicines already available could be used in new ways to help cancer patients. Developing new cancer drugs can take many years, but repurposing existing ones may speed up progress.
If future studies confirm these results in humans, doctors might one day use short‑term anti‑inflammatory treatment before surgery as part of standard cancer care.
The research team, led by Dr. Vikas P. Sukhatme, hopes to continue studying how this approach could work alongside current cancer therapies. Their goal is not only to remove tumors but also to prevent the hidden cells that cause relapse.
Although more research is needed before this method can be widely used in hospitals, the study offers hope. It shows that understanding how the body responds to surgery and inflammation could lead to new ways to stop cancer from spreading and give patients a better chance of long‑term survival.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing higher intake of dairy foods linked to higher prostate cancer risk.
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