Scientists at the Weizmann Institute discovered that sildenafil blocks cancer cells from getting the cholesterol they need to spread. When combined with statins, common drugs used to lower cholesterol, the treatment appeared even more effective.
The findings were tested on mice, human cancer cells and 20 years of medical data from around 5 million Clalit patients. People who had taken both sildenafil and statins before their cancer diagnosis showed the strongest survival results.
Researchers say the discovery could be especially important for aggressive cancers, including lung, colon, prostate and triple-negative breast cancer. The next step is to begin clinical trials and test whether the same results can be safely repeated in patients.
The treatment is not yet approved for cancer, but the discovery could open a faster path because both drugs are already widely used and well understood by doctors.