Researchers have uncovered a potentially groundbreaking new application for a well-known medication. Specifically, a recent study conducted by the Georgia Cancer Center and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Augusta University has put forth the idea that a relatively small dose of the popular male impotence drug Viagra could significantly reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
In order to test their hypothesis, the researchers conducted experiments on mice. Their results showed that administering the drug daily led to a marked reduction in the appearance of polyps and cut the number of colorectal tumors in the animals by a significant margin.
But the effects of the medication did not end there. In addition to reducing tumor growth, the researchers also found that Viagra effectively promoted the production of a specific chemical that is critical for maintaining the health of the intestinal mucosa.
“This study could have a significant impact on people with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis,” said Dr. Mark Friedman, a gastroenterologist at Moffitt Cancer Center. Indeed, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world, underscoring the potential significance of these findings.
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