A new study by researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando finds that tolfenamic acid, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), can reduce esophageal tumors (Investigational New Drugs, June 2012, Vol. 30:3:853-861).
The study, led by Pius Maliakal, PhD, and Riyaz Basha, PhD, researchers at MD Anderson Orlando's Cancer Research Institute, found that tolfenamic acid prevented tumor growth and lessened the size of esophageal tumors in a rat model by decreasing certain proteins that are critical for cancer cell growth and the progression of esophageal tumors, according to MD Anderson.
Further research will be required before tolfenamic acid can be used as a safe and effective drug for esophageal cancer prevention. At present, this drug is an approved anti-inflammatory agent in Europe, South America, and Asia, but is not yet approved for use in the U.S.
