Antidepressant Shows Promise in Combating Deadly Brain Tumors

Breakthrough discovery by ETH Zurich researchers reveals potential new treatment for aggressive glioblastoma using a widely available antidepressant.

In a significant breakthrough, researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered that the antidepressant vortioxetine, currently available in the market, may offer new hope in treating glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. Their findings, recently published in Nature Medicine, reveal that the drug kills tumor cells in cell cultures and shows effectiveness in mice when combined with standard treatments. However, further clinical trials are needed to test its efficacy in humans.

Glioblastoma: A Challenging Cancer to Treat

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor that remains incurable despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Most patients diagnosed with this type of cancer face a grim prognosis, with half dying within 12 months of diagnosis. One of the major challenges in treating glioblastomas is finding drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier, a protective membrane that prevents many cancer drugs from reaching the brain.

ETH Zurich researchers, led by Professor Berend Snijder, have been exploring new ways to tackle this difficult-to-treat cancer. Using their pharmacoscopy screening platform, they tested hundreds of neuroactive substances to see if any could target glioblastoma cells effectively.

Pharmacoscopic Screening Identifies Vortioxetine

Pharmacoscopy is a novel platform developed at ETH Zurich that allows researchers to simultaneously test hundreds of substances on living cells from human cancer tissue. The team, led by postdoctoral researcher Sohyon Lee, focused on drugs that could cross the blood-brain barrier, including antidepressants, Parkinson’s medications, and antipsychotics.

The breakthrough came when vortioxetine, a widely used antidepressant, was found to effectively kill glioblastoma cells in laboratory tests. Vortioxetine was already approved by major regulatory agencies such as the FDA and Swissmedic, making it an attractive candidate for repurposing as a cancer treatment.

Unexpected Effectiveness of Antidepressants

The researchers discovered that certain antidepressants, including vortioxetine, triggered a signaling process important for brain cells, which also helped stop cancer cells from growing. Vortioxetine proved to be the most effective antidepressant in the study, offering new hope for glioblastoma patients.

To further confirm their findings, the researchers collaborated with neurologists from the University Hospital Zurich (USZ), where vortioxetine was tested on mice with glioblastomas. The drug showed promising results, especially when combined with the usual treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Preparing for Clinical Trials

The team at ETH Zurich and USZ is now preparing for two clinical trials. In one trial, glioblastoma patients will receive vortioxetine along with their standard treatment. In another trial, patients will be given a personalized treatment plan, based on the specific type of tumor they have, which will be determined through pharmacoscopy.

Even though these results are promising, the researchers strongly advise against using vortioxetine to treat glioblastoma outside of clinical trials. “We don’t yet know the exact dose needed or if it will work in humans,” said Professor Michael Weller from University Hospital Zurich. “Self-medicating could be very dangerous.”

A Step Toward a New Glioblastoma Treatment

While more research is needed, the study marks a major step forward in finding new ways to treat glioblastoma. “We started with this terrible tumor and found existing drugs that work against it,” said Professor Snijder. “Now, we’re close to testing them on patients.“

If these clinical trials are successful, vortioxetine could become an affordable and widely available treatment option for glioblastoma, making it one of the most significant advances in treating this deadly cancer in decades.

Important Warning:

A small number of children, teenagers, and young adults (up to 24 years old) who took antidepressants like vortioxetine during clinical studies reported having suicidal thoughts or behaviors, such as thinking about or attempting to harm themselves. Young people taking antidepressants for depression or other mental health issues may be at a higher risk for these behaviors compared to those who do not take antidepressants. However, untreated depression in children and teens also carries risks. If your child is being considered for antidepressant treatment, it’s important to have a thorough discussion with their doctor about these risks.

Please note that vortioxetine has not been studied in children younger than 18 years old. Do not use the drug without proper medical guidance.