Prozac 'could beat cancer'

Prozac 'could beat cancer'

The drug could help tackle cancer

The anti-depressant drug Prozac could help doctors tackle cancer, says a UK-based research team.

The drug has been around for well over a decade, and is an established treatment for depression.

However, in recent years, doctors have suggested it might have other benefits.

Researchers from Birmingham University looked at the effects of a variety of chemicals on cancer cells of a type called Burkitt's lymphoma.

Alternative treatments such as this which are inexpensive and have low levels of toxicity would be major step forward

Ken Campbell, Leukaemia Research Fund

This type of cancer - a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - frequently develops in Aids patients, whose weakened state means that conventional chemotherapy may not be appropriate.

It is an aggressive and frequently lethal form of the disease.

Cell suicide

The scientists found that even moderate doses of Prozac appeared to trigger "cell death" - a process in which the cancer cells "commit suicide".

The cell death, or apoptosis, was described by the researchers as "rapid and extensive".

However, it cannot be certain that the same effect would be reproduced in a real patient as opposed to cells in a laboratory test tube.

But the experts leading the research are hopeful that it might do so, and perhaps even help in the fight against some other cancers.

Clinical trials

Professor John Gordon said: "This new development is very exciting.

"We were intrigued as to the impact of fluoxetine (Prozac) on the cancer and found that by increasing its dosage the Burkitt's cells are killed.

"We are already discussing with clinicians about using these drugs as a therapy for Burkitt's lymphoma."

Ken Campbell, from the Leukaemia Research Fund, welcomed the research.

He said: "While there is still some way to go before doctors can start prescribing these drugs to patients with this cancer, these findings could be of major importance to those patients with the Aids-related form of the disease, and to those patients who are not in a position to tolerate intensive chemotherapy.

"Alternative treatments such as this which are inexpensive and have low levels of toxicity would be major step forward in the treatment of this disease."