Posted on 06/22/2022 12:53:03 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A group of drugs commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction may be able to boost the effect of chemotherapy in esophageal cancer, according to new research.
This research found the drugs, known as PDE5 inhibitors can reverse chemotherapy resistance by targeting cells called cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) residing in the area surrounding the tumor.
Although this is early discovery research, PDE5 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy may be able to shrink some esophageal tumors more than chemotherapy could alone, tackling chemotherapy resistance, which is one of the major challenges in treating esophageal cancer.
The researchers found that levels of PDE5, an enzyme originally found in the wall of blood vessels are higher in esophageal adenocarcinoma compared with healthy esophageal tissue. High levels of PDE5 were found in CAFs within the tumor microenvironment. They also found that high expression of PDE5 is associated with worse overall survival, suggesting that PDE5 would be an effective target for treatment.
Following this, the researchers tested a PDE5 inhibitor, PDE5i, on CAFs from esophageal tumors. They found that PDE5i were able to suppress CAF activity and make them look more like normal fibroblasts.
Next, collaborating researchers at the University of Nottingham took samples of tumor cells from 15 tissue biopsies from eight patients, and used them to create lab-grown artificial tumors. They tested a combination of PDE5i and standard chemotherapy on the tumors. Of the 12 samples from patients whose tumors developed a poor response to chemotherapy in the clinic, 9 were made sensitive to standard chemotherapy by targeting CAFs with PDE5i.
The researchers also tested the treatment on mice implanted with chemotherapy resistant esophageal tumors and found that there were no adverse side effects to the treatment, and that chemotherapy combined with PDE5i shrunk the tumors more than chemotherapy alone.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Dammit. Now you made me too sad to post my joke about oral medication.
This is why it’s safe to smoke after sex.
Dang all men can be cancer free …..
It even had a fake female PhD name as the head researcher "quoted" as saying something like "ever since the early data came in I've made myself healthier and my husband happier". LOL
Esophageal is a death sentence.
Along with pancreatic.
Cancers vary as far as real lethality.
Side effect...stiff neck?...
might as well enjoy yourself while suffering..
“shrink some esophageal tumors”
That’s a bit strange, it causes some parts of the body to shrink and others to swell.
Gives “bone in the throat” a hole new meaning.
I took Viagra and it got stuck in my throat. I ended up with a stiff neck.
A group of drugs commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction may be able to boost the effect of chemotherapy in esophageal cancer, according to new research.
This comes out during Fag Month... coincidence? I think not.
Michael Douglas surely sees this as a win-win.
The jokes for this one write themselves.
“OK, Doc, now give me the good news.”
I’m a 27 year survivor of esophageal cancer and just learned in November that I’m now fighting rectal cancer. I start 6 months.of chemotherapy starting in a week for an expected 6 months of treatment.
You are a rare person and have been blessed to get through such an ordeal.
There may be some therapies from colon cancer that could help your current issue, including grape seed extract, from prior studies posted here, if interested.
May God guide you and your doctors and may you glorify Him through your days.
May you soon have WON your battle and war
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