Viagra pills against skin cancer?

Skin cancer in mice successfully treated with Viagra

09/11/2011

Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg have discovered a cancer-preventing effect of the potentiating agent Viagra. Thus, the drug could possibly in the future help in the treatment of black skin cancer (malignant melanoma). The immune system could be improved by the pills.

As the researchers of the DKFZ found out in a recent study, the drug Sildenafil contained in Viagra shows significant positive effects in the treatment of black skin cancer - at least in mice. In the laboratory experiments, the active ingredient of the potency agent has strengthened the immune defense of rodents and thus significantly reduced the spread of black skin cancer, the DKFZ researchers report in the latest issue of the US journal „Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences“ (PNAS).

The scientists of the German Cancer Research Center used mice for their experiments, as the black skin cancer in rodents is clinically very similar to that in humans, explained the DKFZ immunologist Dr. med. Victor Umansky. As part of their investigations „on melanoma-ill mice“ the researchers could prove, „that the active substance Sildenafil - better known under the trade name Viagra® - repeals the inhibition of the specific immune defense“, so the current release of the DKFZ. Accordingly, the cancerous mice, which received the active ingredient of the sexual enhancer over the drinking water, „more than twice as long“ survives like untreated conspecifics. After seven weeks of trial, only half as many of the untrained mice survived as those of the rodents swallowing Viagra.

Viagra strengthens the immune system against tumor cells
As an explanation for the positive effect of the potency agent against the skin cancers of the mice called the DKFZ scientists activation of the immune system, which helps in the fight against tumors. Actually, the cells of the immune system attack the tumor cells specifically, but in most cancers this „cancer-specific immune defense“ by „chronic inflammatory immune reactions“ Suppressed in the vicinity of the herd of cancer, so the statement of the DKFZ. In order to enable the active fight against the tumors by the body's own defenses nevertheless, Dr. med. Umansky and colleagues as part of their study for methods of curbing the „chronic inflammation“. The researchers tested the active ingredient of the sexual enhancer Viagra, as it has already repeatedly contributed to the strengthening of the immune defense against tumors in experimental animal models. This finding was also confirmed in the current study in which „Sildenafil successfully chronic inflammation in the environment of melanoma“ neutralized and the „immunosuppressive effect“ has corrected, reports the DKFZ.

Viagra as a future drug for black skin cancer?
Because the „Disease of the mice is clinically very similar to that of melanoma in humans“, it is according to Dr. Victor Umansky „It is quite possible that sildenafil can also suppress the immunosuppressive effects of inflammation in melanoma patients and thus improve the immune system against the cancer.“ In the future, the power means could possibly be „help to treat black skin cancer more successfully“, so the DKFZ immunologist. To confirm this assumption, however, further intensive studies are required, stressed. Umansky. (Fp)

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Picture credits: Dieter Schütz