This common drug could be effective in treating brain tumors

Could a treatment commonly used for depression revolutionize the fight against brain cancer? Recent discoveries surrounding vortioxetine, an antidepressant, suggest promising possibilities.

Swiss researchers have shed light on the unexpected capabilities of this antidepressant in the battle against glioblastoma. This brain tumor, one of the most formidable, could soon face a new form of resistance.


The University Hospital of Zurich is behind this research. Their study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, reveals that vortioxetine could significantly slow down the progression of glioblastoma. This drug was tested on rodent models, and the results are encouraging.

Glioblastoma is notorious for its resistance to conventional treatments like chemotherapy. Each year, approximately 3,500 new cases are diagnosed in France, highlighting the urgent need for therapeutic innovations.

The researchers used a pharmacoscopy platform to assess the effectiveness of various substances on human cancer tissues. Over 130 compounds were tested, and vortioxetine stood out for its particular effectiveness. This drug works by triggering a cascade of signals that inhibit cell division.

Preliminary results showed that with vortioxetine treatment, 66.7% of tumors taken from patients significantly shrunk. This notable improvement was measured using advanced imaging techniques, which allowed the evaluation of the tumors' size before and after the administration of the drug.

In parallel, trials conducted on rodent models also confirmed the drug's effectiveness. In these studies, mice with glioblastoma showed a marked slowing of tumor growth when given vortioxetine. This effect was particularly strong when combined with other conventional treatments such as chemotherapy.

To validate these results, clinical trials are being prepared. One of them will involve administering vortioxetine alongside standard treatments in humans. Another will propose a personalized selection of medications.

It is essential to remember that self-medication is not a solution in the meantime. Dr. Michael Weller, co-author of the study, warns of the risks associated with unsupervised use. The drug must undergo rigorous trials before any prescription is made.

Current research demonstrates that therapeutic innovation can sometimes come from existing drugs, repurposed strategically. If clinical trials confirm vortioxetine's effectiveness, it would mark a significant advance in the fight against glioblastoma, which remains one of the most challenging tumors to treat.

What is pharmacoscopy?

Pharmacoscopy is a method used to study the effects of drugs on living cells. This technique allows simultaneous testing of hundreds of active substances on biological samples, thereby facilitating the identification of potential treatments for various diseases, including cancers.

By integrating imaging tools and computational analysis, pharmacoscopy offers a systematic approach to determining the effectiveness of existing or new drugs.

How does vortioxetine work against glioblastoma?

Vortioxetine, as an antidepressant, primarily works by modulating neurotransmission in the brain. In the context of glioblastoma, it has shown its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and influence cellular signaling, thereby slowing the division of cancerous cells.

This neuroprotective action also appears to sensitize tumor cells to conventional treatments, making chemotherapy and radiotherapy more effective. Recent research highlights its potential as an innovative therapeutic option in the fight against this aggressive form of cancer.

What is glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer, representing the most common and most formidable malignant brain tumor. It develops from glial cells, which support and protect neurons.

This cancer is characterized by rapid growth and a high resistance to standard treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Median survival after diagnosis generally does not exceed twelve months, underscoring the urgency of finding more effective treatments.