A new study led by the University of Bristol (UK) has discovered that patients using glitazones, a diabetes medication, over an extended period have a reduced risk of developing brain cancer and can also prevent cancer metastasis.

The research, published in the medical journal BMJ Open, suggests that certain drugs can be repurposed to prevent metastatic cancer in patients at high risk of developing secondary cancers, according to Medical Express.

Could a Diabetes Drug Be the Key to Stopping Brain Cancer?

Previous studies have indicated that glitazones, a diabetes medication, and fibrates, which are used to treat high cholesterol, may play a role in preventing brain tumors. Due to their widespread use, safety profile, and affordability, these medications could be repurposed to reduce the risk of brain tumors by inhibiting tumor growth.

This study was conducted as part of a major UK Department of Health research project called the "Clinical Practice Research Datalink" (CPRD), which includes data from over 2,000 doctors across 670 clinics and hospitals in the UK. The researchers aimed to validate the potential role of glitazones in preventing brain cancer.

The study analyzed data from 7,496 brain cancer patients, including 4,471 with primary tumors and 3,025 with secondary tumors.

Key Findings of the Study

The results showed that diabetic patients who had been using glitazones for a long time had a lower risk of both primary and secondary brain tumors compared to diabetic patients using other medications, according to Medical Express.

Professor Kathreena Kurian, Director of the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of Bristol, and lead author of the study, stated:
"Glitazones, a class of anti-diabetic drugs, may have the potential to prevent both primary and metastatic brain tumors."

Professor Yoav Ben-Shlomo, a co-author and Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Bristol Medical School, added:
"This is the largest study in diabetic patients to show a link between long-term glitazone use and a reduction in both primary brain tumors and metastatic cancer."

If confirmed in larger studies and clinical trials, these medications could be repurposed to prevent brain metastasis in high-risk cancer patients, particularly those with breast cancer and lung cancer, two cancers that frequently spread to the brain.

This research opens exciting possibilities for using existing medications in new ways to combat aggressive brain tumors and metastatic cancer, offering hope for more effective and accessible treatment strategies in the future. 🚀