The medicine for rheumatoid arthritis can kill ovarian cancer cells in women with the BRCA1 gene mutation. This is reported by scientists from Plymouth University.
The drug auranofin, according to the researchers, reduces the viability of cancer cells by 37 percent in the presence of the BRCA1 gene, also known as the "Angelina Jolie gene." The mutated BRCA1 gene is found in 20 percent of patients with ovarian cancer.
In the past, it was believed that the best way to fight this type of cancer was with chemotherapy. However, as shown by the study of the above scientists, these cells are extremely sensitive to auranofin. This discovery, according to scientists, will help find new ways to treat this type of cancer.
“The use of drugs like Auranofin in cancer treatment seems very promising as they are already available and their pharmacological and toxic properties are already documented,” said study author Awadesh Jha.
Mutations BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer in their owners. These mutations became widely known thanks to actress Angelina Jolie, who told the world that, being a carrier of the mutation, she went for a mastectomy to prevent breast cancer. She later also had her ovaries removed to prevent the development of ovarian cancer.