Researchers in Sweden are currently exploring the potential of a 250-year-old medicine as a novel treatment for pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of cancer in existence.
The medication in question is digitoxin, a heart medicine that was first prescribed in the 18th century and is derived from the foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea). A team of researchers at the University of Skövde, in partnership with Skaraborg Hospital, have initiated a clinical study to investigate the efficacy of digitoxin in treating pancreatic cancer.
Heléne Lindholm, a bioscience researcher at the University of Skövde, expressed optimism about the potential of digitoxin as a cancer treatment due to its well-known and approved status. She highlighted that the drug has shown promising results in laboratory studies, prompting the need for further evaluation through clinical trials.
Pancreatic cancer is notorious for its high mortality rate, with less than 5% of patients surviving beyond five years post-diagnosis. Digitoxin has exhibited the ability to disrupt cancer cell metabolism, interfere with calcium balance, and induce cell death in certain instances. Nevertheless, the response to digitoxin varies among different types of pancreatic cancer cells, emphasizing the importance of personalized treatment approaches.
The research team is utilizing five distinct pancreatic cancer cell lines to assess their reactions to digitoxin and identify potential biomarkers that can predict which patients are most likely to benefit from the treatment. This personalized approach aims to improve treatment outcomes and offer new hope for patients with limited therapeutic options.
Collaborating with oncologist Johan Haux at Skaraborg Hospital, the researchers are focused on determining the optimal dosage of digitoxin, ensuring patient safety, and validating the relevance of identified biomarkers in human patients. If successful, digitoxin could emerge as a valuable addition to the existing treatment arsenal for pancreatic cancer.
The clinical study builds upon previous research conducted by the team, with their latest findings published in the International Journal of Translational Medicine in 2024. This ongoing research underscores the potential of repurposing existing medications for new therapeutic purposes, offering a glimmer of hope in the fight against a formidable adversary like pancreatic cancer.
As the study progresses, the researchers remain committed to advancing our understanding of digitoxin’s role in combating pancreatic cancer and potentially transforming the landscape of cancer treatment.
