Common Antifungal Drug Shows Promise in Fighting Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer, the most common male cancer in Austria with around 6,000 new cases annually, may have found an unexpected ally in Terbinafine, a common antifungal medication. A series of studies, including a mouse trial and a short-term human test, suggest this drug could inhibit tumor growth and lower PSA levels.
Terbinafine, the active ingredient in 'Lamisil', works by blocking the enzyme squalene epoxidase (SQLE). Intriguingly, prostate carcinomas produce large amounts of this enzyme, presenting a potential target for the drug. In tests, Terbinafine not only inhibited cancer cell growth but also triggered cell suicide.
Driven by scientific conviction and a rebellious spirit, Austrian chemist Anton Stütz is at the forefront of this research. He aims to conduct a clinical study in Switzerland in early 2026 to further test Terbinafine's cancer-fighting potential. This follows encouraging findings from Swedish researchers who found that patients treated with Terbinafine for fungal infections had a 47% lower mortality rate compared to untreated patients. The connection between fungal infections and prostate cancer is an ambitious but promising avenue of exploration.
While the pharmaceutical industry has shown little interest in developing Terbinafine for cancer treatment due to patent issues and expected low profits, Stütz's work offers hope. His successful progress in Germany thus far suggests that this common antifungal drug could potentially be repurposed to fight prostate cancer, saving lives and improving patient outcomes.
