In world first, Israeli scientists find active ingredient in Viagra may stop cancer spread

Israeli researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have discovered that sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, can disrupt cancer cells' cholesterol supply, preventing metastasis. The peer-reviewed study, published in Cancer Research, combined lab experiments on mice and human cells with data from over 5 million Clalit patients. Survival rates were highest among patients who took both sildenafil and statins before diagnosis. The team now aims to conduct a clinical trial of Viagra for women with triple-negative breast cancer.

In a world first, Israeli researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have uncovered the biological mechanism by which sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, helps stop the spread of cancer. The peer-reviewed study, published in Cancer Research, showed that sildenafil disrupts cancer cells' cholesterol supply, a crucial material they need to metastasize. The research was led by Dr. Yarden Ariav in Prof. Ayelet Erez's lab, with collaborators from the US National Cancer Institute, Clalit Health Services, and Rabin Medical Center. The findings were based on mouse cancer models, cultures of cancer cells from human patients, and data collected over 20 years from some 5 million Clalit members. Survival rates were highest among patients who had taken both sildenafil and statins six months before their diagnosis. The laboratory tests focused on cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer, melanoma, and lung cancer. The real-world patient data confirmed the findings in male mice for lung, colon, and prostate cancer. Erez emphasized the next step is to push medicine by giving women a drug traditionally associated with men's health, specifically a clinical trial to give Viagra to women with triple-negative breast cancer. The study also revealed that cancer cells can activate a system to produce more cholesterol on their own, which is why statins were needed in combination. Dr. Ido Wolf, head of the oncology division at Tel Aviv Medical Center, called the study fascinating and highlighted the potential for rapid drug repurposing.