Digoxin reduces breast cancer cell clusters in blood, study shows

Researchers have found that digoxin, a heart medication, can dissolve clusters of breast cancer cells in the blood. This reduces the risk of metastases, which are secondary tumors that can form when cancer cells spread from the primary tumor. In a study involving nine patients with metastatic breast cancer, digoxin significantly decreased the average number of cells in these clusters. Smaller clusters are less likely to successfully form new tumors, potentially improving patient outcomes. Digoxin works by blocking sodium-potassium pumps in cancer cells, weakening their cohesion. While it does not eliminate existing tumors, researchers plan to develop new molecules based on digoxin and explore its effects on other cancer types.