Read the full edition No. 27 of the Health Journal
Laboratory tests on cancer cells showed that an antidepressant drug called vortioxetine, which costs less than €50 for a pack of 28 tablets and is usually prescribed to adults with major episodes of depression, was effective in to treat glioblastomas – the most common type of brain tumor. , which is developing rapidly.
Glioblastoma is a particularly aggressive brain tumor that is currently incurable. Oncologists can extend patients’ life expectancy through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery. However, half of the patients die within twelve months of diagnosis.
Oncologists can extend patients’ life expectancy through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery. However, half of the patients die within twelve months of diagnosis.
Researchers at the University Hospital Zurich, who made the discovery, are now raising hopes for the treatment of this aggressive disease, which currently has a survival time of only 12-18 months.
Other tests in mice showed that vortioxetine has “good efficacy”, especially in combination with standard treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, the team said.
Researchers at ETH Zurich used a computer model to test the effectiveness of more than a million substances against glioblastomas. According to their findings, the common signaling inhibition of neurons and cancer cells plays a decisive role and explains why some neuroactive drugs work, but others do not.
“Vortioxetine has the advantage of being safe and very cost-effective. Because the drug is already approved, it does not need to go through a complex authorization process and could soon complement the standard treatment for this deadly brain tumor,” said Dr. Michael Weller, senior -professor at the University Hospital Zurich and director of the Department of Neurology.
Only 25% of glioblastoma patients live more than a year, which drops to 5% after five years.
Finding drugs that are effective against brain tumors is difficult because many cancer treatments cannot cross a membrane that prevents toxins from reaching the brain, known as the blood-brain barrier.
In the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, the researchers tested hundreds of other drugs that are able to cross this barrier, such as antidepressants and Parkinson’s drugs.
The drug was the most effective of the antidepressants tested, the researchers said.
Two clinical trials are already planned at the University Hospital Zurich.
The team is trying to recruit patients to a clinical trial where they will be given vortioxetine alongside standard treatment.
Experts advise patients not to try the drug on their own without medical guidance.
“We still don’t know if the drug works in humans and what dose is needed to fight the tumor, which is why clinical trials are needed. Self-medication would be an immeasurable risk,” said Dr. Weller.
If the antidepressant proves effective, it will be the first time in decades that an active substance has been found to improve the treatment of glioblastoma.
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2024-10-09 00:00:00
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