Common Painkiller as Cancer Treatment? Diclofenac Found to Have Anti-Cancer Effect

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Diclofenac, a well-known and affordable painkiller, was found to have significant effects as a cancer treatment. A new study revealed Tuesday that the drug contains anti-cancer properties.

Research from the Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO) project, which is being undertaken by international experts in Belgium and the United States, have shown that while Diclofenac is not a cancer drug, it might be possible to use this to aid those undergoing cancer treatments. Diclofenac is commonly used to treat migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, post-operation pain and fever, and it is sold as branded names like Voltaren, Zipsor, Solaraze and Cambia, per UPI.  

The experts had the idea to test medications that may be usually found in a typical medicine cabinet and discovered that anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal drugs (NSAID) like Diclofenac had a major influence when used in conjunction with other cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They went over previous medical records of cancer patients, who were prescribed the painkiller after a tumor removal surgery and noted that the drug was able to help improve the patient's post-operative recovery. Diclofenac apparently helped strengthen the patient's immune system.

With their findings, the experts hope to further investigate Diclofenac as a viable cancer treatment, especially since it's cheap, readily available and has low toxicity levels, per Science Daily.

"It's still somewhat surprising that there is still so much we don't understand about how many of the standard drugs we use every day, like Diclofenac, work," said study author Pan Pantziarka, per the AntiCancer Fund press release. "But the more we learn, the more we can see that these drugs are multi-targeted agents with interesting and useful effects on multiple pathways of interest in oncology."

Pantziarka also noted that Diclofenac "may have actions which synergize with the latest generation of checkpoint inhibitors," and that in combination with with tried and tested treatments, their discovery makes for an exciting and promising time for cancer research.

Many scientists have been finding newer and cheaper methods to treat cancer and, with their findings, Diclofenac is seen as a viable candidate. With cancer treatments going for expensive rates, thousands of lives could be saved if and when further studies prove that the painkiller passes the test. Currently, four clinical trials are being done to boost the experts' findings, UPI stated in its report.

Aside from Diclofenac, the experts are also looking into common drugs like Ketorolac and Cimetidine as possible cancer treatments. However, further research and tests have yet to be done to determine its impact.