Are Cancer Cells Killed by Cimetidine?
In 2006, there were studies looking at cimetidine as an adjuvant treatment for gastric cancer . Research have shown that the drug can support the fight against gastric cancer even if it was primarily developed to relieve heartburn. In one study, patients undergoing chemotherapy who were also given cimetidine responded better to treatment compared to those who were not given cimetidine. The benefits of cimetidine was not limited to gastric cancer alone, but have also been studied on brain tumors and colon cancers as well. The actions of cimetidine in cancer include enhancement of the body’s immune system, inhibits spread of cancer cells and interferes with the growth of the tumor. Although it may not directly kill cancer cells, cimetidine has been found to promote apoptosis or the programmed cell death of cancer cells.