Colorectal cancer or colon cancer takes more lives than traffic accidents worldwide. The top North American countries affected by colon cancer are Barbados, Uruguay, the United States, and Canada. Worldwide, the highest colon cancer incidence rate is registered in South Korea. The statistics are very gloomy, despite the fact that colon cancer has a survival rate of 90% if detected in time. Shockingly, however, a recent study concluded that Viagra, the well-known potency ‘blue pill’, can prevent colon cancer development.
A daily dose of Viagra reduces the risks of developing colon cancer
More specifically, the scientists from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Medical College of Georgia at the University of Augusta found that a small daily dose of Viagra can decrease colon cancer risks.
The investigation’s report was published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
The study was conducted on genetically modified mice exposed to colon cancer development markers.
According to the scientists responsible for the research, the ‘blue pill’ decreases by about 50% the formation of polyps on the intestinal lining, which are known to be abnormal growth cell that can turn into cancerous cells.
The genetically modified mice had reduced levels of guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) activating peptides. This indicator is also present in human colon cancers.
However, the existing polyps were not affected, so, according to the researchers, Viagra can only prevent colon cancer in high-risk patients.
Viagra also increases the guanosine monophosphate (GMP)
The study also suggests that the drug increases levels of the cyclic chemical cyclic guanosine monophosphate GMP, which participates as a second messenger in the transmission routes of cellular signals.
It is known that GMP affects the intestinal lining or epithelium, suppressing in part the excess of cell proliferation, which produces an increase in normal cell differentiation. It also stimulates the natural elimination of abnormal cells, through a process called apoptosis.
The researchers said that all the study’s results lead towards the conclusion that Viagra, the well-known potency ‘blue pill’, can prevent colon cancer by reducing the development of polyps in the intestinal lining which can turn into cancerous cells.
