Common pain medication ibuprofen exhibits anti-cancer properties, study reveals

Common pain medication exhibits anti-cancer properties, study reveals
Common pain medication ibuprofen exhibits anti-cancer properties                    
                  


Common pain medication exhibits anti-cancer properties, study reveals

Ibuprofen, one of the most widely used medications in the world for headaches, muscle aches, and menstrual pain, may not just relieve pain.

 According to new scientific research, published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering and highlighted by ScienceAlert, this common medication may have anti-cancer properties, opening new avenues for understanding the relationship between chronic inflammation and tumor development.

A potential tool for cancer prevention

Ibuprofen belongs to a class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which work by inhibiting enzymes known as cyclooxygenase (COX). The two enzymes, known as COX-1 and COX-2, perform different functions in the body. The former protects the stomach lining and aids in blood clotting, while the latter stimulates inflammation that may contribute to the formation of cancer cells.

By inhibiting COX-2 activity, ibuprofen reduces the production of prostaglandins, which fuel inflammation and abnormal cell growth. "These new discoveries give us clearer insight into how to improve long-term treatment outcomes and show that basic science can finally move closer to practical application in patient care," said researcher Stephen Withers, a professor of biochemistry at the University of British Columbia in Canada.

25% reduced risk of uterine cancer

According to a 2025 study conducted by the US PLCO Project (prostate, lung, colon, and ovarian cancers), data from more than 42,000 women aged 55 to 74 was analyzed over 12 years. The results showed that women who took at least 30 ibuprofen tablets per month were 25% less likely to develop endometrial cancer than those who took fewer than four doses per month.

The protective benefit was most evident among women with heart disease. Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer and typically affects postmenopausal women. Risk factors include obesity, high estrogen levels, estrogen monotherapy, diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

The Effect Isn't Limited to the Uterus

However, the evidence doesn't stop there. According to additional studies, ibuprofen's protective effect may extend to colon, breast, lung, and prostate cancers. Patients who had previously been diagnosed with colon cancer and took ibuprofen were less likely to have their tumors return, and other research has suggested the drug may reduce the risk of lung cancer among smokers.

Scientists suggest that the effect is due to reducing chronic inflammation, a key feature of tumor development. By reducing prostaglandin levels, ibuprofen may slow or even stop tumor growth. Research has also revealed that the drug affects genes linked to cancer cell growth, making the cells more sensitive to chemotherapy and less able to resist the drugs.

Mixed Results and Medical Warnings

However, despite these encouraging results, the picture is not yet complete. Some studies have shown contradictory results. One study of more than 7,700 patients linked aspirin use after a uterine cancer diagnosis to increased mortality, particularly among those who used it before diagnosis. Some medications in the same class have also increased the risk of cancer-related death in certain samples.

Conversely, a recent scientific review concluded that aspirin may reduce the risk of several types of cancer, but may increase the risk of kidney cancer with regular, long-term use. These conflicting results, according to the researchers, confirm that the relationship between inflammation, immunity, and cancer is highly complex and cannot be explained in isolation from other factors such as genetics and lifestyle.

While doctors strongly warn against taking ibuprofen in high doses or for long periods without medical supervision, chronic use can lead to problems including stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, heart problems such as clots and strokes, and dangerous drug interactions with blood thinners and some antidepressants. The researchers also emphasized that these drugs should only be used under a specific prescription, especially in patients with heart or kidney disease.

The Best Prevention: A Healthy Lifestyle

Despite the excitement surrounding this discovery, experts emphasized that the best way to prevent cancer remains a balanced lifestyle, based primarily on eating foods rich in antioxidants and fiber, maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and avoiding smoking and alcohol. 

The researchers concluded their report by saying, "The daily medications we use may hold the keys to bigger medical battles than we realize, but until science settles the debate, the most important advice remains: do not take any medication in the hope of preventing cancer without consulting a doctor."

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