Antidepressant Drug May Aid Body in Cancer Combat
SSRIs Show Promise in Early Cancer Treatment Trials
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac), are gaining attention in the field of oncology for their potential role in cancer treatment, particularly in modifying tumor immune cells.
A recent study led by scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, has shed light on the possible antitumor effects of SSRIs. The research, published in the journal Cell, found that SSRIs can shrink a variety of cancers in mice and bolster the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
The study team paired SSRIs with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer. The combination of SSRIs and ICB therapy further shrunk melanoma and colon cancer tumors in mice. On average, the treatment reduced the size of these tumors by more than 50%.
Lili Yang, a professor at UCLA and the lead researcher, stated that SSRIs made killer T cells happier in the tumor environment by increasing their access to serotonin signals. This, in turn, made these immune cells better at recognizing and killing cancer cells.
Yang, who is also a researcher at UCLA's Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, added that the fact that SSRIs are already approved to treat depression could expedite their development and potential approval for cancer treatment.
UCLA has filed a patent for the combination approach used in the study. The researchers hope to conduct clinical trials of SSRIs for cancer in humans. The research team plans to conduct a human trial to compare treatment outcomes between cancer patients who take SSRIs and those who do not.
However, it's important to note that the findings are from mice and lab experiments, and more research is needed before SSRIs can be considered a significant advancement in cancer treatment.
While SSRIs' primary established role in cancer patients remains in managing depression and anxiety associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment, the evidence for their potential antitumor effects is preliminary. Current trials focus on safety, dosing, and preliminary efficacy.
Serotonin, a hormone, has a complicated relationship with cancer. More research is needed to clarify whether SSRIs can be repurposed as anticancer agents.
In conclusion, SSRIs hold potential but are still at an early clinical trial stage for cancer treatment. Select fluoxetine trials in colorectal cancer patients are the most concrete example presently in progress.
- Gizmodo reported on the promising role of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in early cancer treatment trials.
- In health and wellness, antitumor effects of SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), have been observed in a study led by scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles.
- The scientists discovered that SSRIs can shrink various cancers in mice and enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, reducing tumors by over 50% when paired with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy.
- The potential for SSRIs to be repurposed as therapies and treatments for mental-health conditions like depression could expedite their development for cancer treatment.
- UCLA has filed a patent for the combination approach used in the study, planning to conduct human clinical trials to compare treatment outcomes for cancer patients taking SSRIs and those not taking them.
- While SSRIs may hold promise for future cancer treatments, more research is necessary to clarify their antitumor effects and confirm their significance as an advancement in science and medicine.
