How a Worm Medicine Targets Cancer Cell Survival
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that a low‑cost deworming drug can boost the effectiveness of a targeted therapy for non‑small cell lung cancer that has become resistant to treatment. The study, published in Nature Medicine last week, combined the antiparasitic agent pyrantel pamoate with the EGFR inhibitor osimertinib in cell cultures and mouse models, resulting in tumor shrinkage where the cancer had previously rebounded.
The team began by screening a library of approved medicines for compounds that could reverse resistance mechanisms in cancer cells. Pyrantel pamoate, a staple of veterinary and human anti‑worm regimens, emerged as a top candidate because it interferes with calcium channels that cancer cells exploit to survive drug pressure. When added to osimertinib, the combination disrupted these channels, restored cell death pathways, and halted tumor growth in mice without added toxicity. Lead author Dr. Aisha Patel explained that „repurposing an inexpensive, well‑characterised drug offers a rapid route to clinical testing, especially for patients who have exhausted standard options.”
The researchers found that resistant lung cancer cells up‑regulate a specific calcium‑permeable channel, TRPM7, to bypass the blockage of EGFR signaling. Pyrantel pamoate binds to this channel, reducing calcium influx and sensitising the cells to EGFR inhibition. In vitro assays showed a 70 % decrease in cell viability when both drugs were used together, compared with a modest 15 % reduction with osimertinib alone. In mouse xenografts, the combination halted tumor progression for over eight weeks, whereas monotherapy led to rapid regrowth.
Could This Cheap Pill Be the Answer to Resistant Lung Cancer?
Dr. Patel noted that „the synergy is striking because neither drug is highly toxic on its own, yet together they strike at a vulnerability that the cancer has adopted to survive.” The study also examined pharmacokinetics, confirming that therapeutic levels of pyrantel pamoate are achievable with doses already approved for human use.
The findings raise the possibility that a widely available, inexpensive medication could be repurposed for a deadly disease. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and resistance to targeted therapies accounts for most treatment failures. If clinical trials confirm these pre‑clinical results, patients could gain access to a combination therapy costing a fraction of current oncology drugs.
However, experts caution that mouse models do not always predict human outcomes. Dr. Michael Liu, an oncologist not involved in the study, warned that „while the data are encouraging, we need rigorous phase II trials to assess safety, optimal dosing, and real‑world efficacy.” The research team has already secured funding for a multi‑center trial that will enroll patients with EGFR‑mutant lung cancer who have progressed on osimertinib.
If successful, the approach could spark a broader search for other antiparasitic agents that modulate ion channels in cancer cells, opening a new frontier in drug repurposing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pyrantel pamoate and how is it normally used? Pyrantel pamoate is an anthelmintic drug that paralyzes intestinal worms, allowing them to be expelled. It is sold over the counter for treating pinworm and roundworm infections in humans and animals.
Why focus on calcium channels in cancer therapy? Cancer cells often hijack calcium signaling to support growth and evade death. Blocking specific calcium channels can disrupt these survival pathways, making tumors more vulnerable to existing treatments.
When might patients see this combination in clinical practice? If the upcoming phase II trial demonstrates safety and efficacy, regulatory approval could follow within a few years, potentially making the regimen available to patients by the mid‑2020s.