Prime Highlight

• Scientists at the University of Basel discovered that dexamethasone may reduce metastasisin a type of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer that no longer responds to hormone therapy.
• The drug works by activating the glucocorticoid receptor, which in turn lowers estrogen receptor levels and slows cancer cell growth.

Key Facts

• In mouse studies and tests on human tumour tissue, dexamethasone reduced liver metastases and extended survival, showing promising early results.
• Researchers caution that the drug is not effective for all breast cancers; previous work shows it may increase the spread of triple-negative breast cancer.

Background

A team of scientists from the University of Basel, Switzerland, has discovered that dexamethasone, a drug already used to manage chemotherapy side effects, could also help stop the spread of certain breast cancers. The study reported that the medication reduced metastases in a specific breast cancer type that no longer responds to standard hormone treatment.

Dexamethasone is a synthetic version of cortisol, a natural stress hormone. Doctors commonly prescribe it to control nausea and inflammation during cancer therapy. Now, researchers suggest it might also support treatment for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, which is usually treated with hormone therapy. This therapy works by blocking estrogen receptors that fuel cancer cell growth.

The research group, led by Professor Mohamed Bentires-Alj, reported in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine that dexamethasone helped slow this resistant spread in laboratory studies. In trials with mice, the drug reduced liver metastases and extended survival. Scientists also tested tumor tissue from human patients grown in the lab. They found similar results; the number of estrogen receptors dropped when dexamethasone was added.

Lead author Dr. Madhuri Manivannan explained that the drug works by activating the glucocorticoid receptor, which then reduces the production of estrogen receptors. Without this key driver, cancer cells grow more slowly.

The researchers say these findings show a new possible benefit of a well-known medicine. However, they warn that it is too early to apply this treatment widely. Clinical studies are needed to confirm safety and effectiveness in patients.

Experts also say that dexamethasone does not work for all breast cancer types. Previous studies found that it can increase the spread of triple-negative breast cancer.