Study finds Viagra may hinder cancer spread by limiting cholesterol use

Scientists at Tel Aviv University have identified a new way the drug sildenafil, best known as Viagra, may combat cancer spread. Their experiments show that the medication hampers cancer cells' capacity to acquire cholesterol, which is essential for building cellular membranes during metastasis. Without sufficient cholesterol, tumor cells struggle to detach from the primary site, travel through the body, and invade distant organs.

The researchers attribute this effect to sildenafil's blood-vessel-dilating properties, which alter cholesterol availability. They propose that pairing the drug with widely used statins, which lower cholesterol production, could further suppress metastatic growth. The findings open a potential avenue for repurposing an existing medication in oncology treatment strategies.