New research has shown that the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra can improve how well patients respond to treatment for brain tumours.
Scientists from the Neurological Institute at Ceders-Sinai Hospital in the US have conducted a study to see whether the drug can break down the body’s natural barriers to the cancer drug Herceptin. Herceptin is used to fight lung and breast cancers that have metastasised to the brain.
The problem is that even if the cancer is of a type that will respond to the drug, the Herceptin must first penetrate the ‘blood-brain’ barrier for the treatment to be effective. Dr. Julia Y Ljumbimova described the barrier as existing to protect the brain from dangerous substances, meaning that it identifies the Herceptin as dangerous.
However, when patients were given either sildanafil or vardenafil (Viagra or Levitra) they inhibited the enzyme PDE5, which made the blood-brain barrier more permeable and boosted how effective chemotherapy treatment was.They also found that it made the brain more receptive to Herceptin, which usually is partly prevented by its large molecules from crossing the barrier, seriously reducing its effectiveness.
The results of the study showed that when patients were given vardenafil and Herceptin together, mean survival rates increased by 20%, compared to those only taking Herceptin.
Viagra is already used as a treatment for a variety of conditions, including heart problems, pulmonary embolisms and on newborns with blood flow problems.