Pinworm Drug Shows Potential in Treating Aggressive Skin Cancer: Researchers

New York: A widely used pinworm medication may hold new promise in fighting Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive form of skin cancer, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the research reveals that the drug pyrvinium pamoate, originally approved in 1955 for treating pinworm infections, can halt and potentially reverse the growth of this deadly cancer in preclinical models.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a neuroendocrine skin cancer that is fast-growing and significantly more lethal than melanoma, with a mortality rate three to five times higher. Despite the availability of surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy, treatment outcomes remain limited, making the search for new therapies critical.

The study, led by Assistant Professor Megha Padi, demonstrated that pyrvinium pamoate effectively inhibited cancer cell growth and reversed key neuroendocrine characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma in laboratory experiments. Furthermore, when tested in mouse models, the drug significantly reduced tumor growth, highlighting its therapeutic potential.

“This cancer is rare but becoming more common. It also shares many traits with other cancers, making it a good model for studying broader cancer mechanisms,” said Padi.

While pyrvinium pamoate has previously shown anti-tumor activity in several cancers including breast, pancreatic, colorectal, and bladder, this is the first study to evaluate its effects in Merkel cell carcinoma.

The mechanism behind its effectiveness may be tied to the biological similarities between cancer cells and parasites. “It’s a hypothesis, but both tumors and parasites manipulate the host to survive and multiply, often using similar metabolic pathways,” Padi explained. “If these hijacked pathways overlap, a drug targeting parasites might also target tumors.”

Though further clinical studies are needed, this discovery offers a promising new avenue for the treatment. Repurposing already-approved drugs like pyrvinium pamoate may accelerate the development of the effective cancer therapies.