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Intriguing news re Viagra et al

Posted by Iansf on February 10, 2007, at 13:06:16

Those using Viagra, levitra or Cialis to treat med-related sexual dysfunction may find the following report on their cancer-fighting characteristics heartening. I'm surprised by the last sentence, however, which says these drugs suppress nitric oxide. My understanding is that nitric oxide is necessary to achieve erection. Indeed the theory behind taking L-arginine to help achieve erection is that it increases nitric oxide levels. At any rate, here's the article:


VIAGRA and other impotence drugs help switch on the immune system to
attack a range of cancers, a study has found.

The disease usually manages to avoid destruction partly because
tumours produce a fog of chemicals that hide it from white blood
cells.

But Viagra, a brand name for sildenafil citrate, and other such drugs
were found to reduce the amount of these chemicals, enabling the
immune system to target the cancer more effectively.

Tests at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Centre in the United States
found the drug reduced the size of colon and breast tumours in mice
threefold.

In mice which were genetically engineered to lack an immune system,
the tumours were unaffected, showing that Viagra was helping the
body's natural defence mechanisms fight the disease.

Laboratory tests on human cancer cells showed similar results and
clinical trials are planned for next year.

They will also see if prostate cancer patients who take Viagra to deal
with the impotence that can be a side-effect experience lower rates of
recurrence.

Professor Ivan Borrello, of Johns Hopkins, said the drug might help
prevent recurrence of the disease after surgery.

He said the technique should work for "solid" cancers but might also
be effective against liquid ones such as leukaemia.

The study, reported in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, was the
latest to show other uses for sildenafil beyond the most common one.

Viagra suppresses levels of nitric oxide, one component of the fog
which protects tumours from the immune system, and this is a critical
compound involved in a variety of "signalling pathways" used in the
body.

John


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poster:Iansf thread:731602
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070207/msgs/731602.html