Duke University Researchers Discover Cholesterol Drug's Potential in Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine have identified a potential new use for bezafibrate, a cholesterol-lowering drug, in the treatment of ovarian cancer. The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals that bezafibrate can disrupt the protective environment created by ascites, a fluid buildup in the abdomen that aids cancer cell survival and spread. Ascites, present in 90% of advanced ovarian cancer cases, shields cancer cells from ferroptosis, a type of cell death. The research team, led by Yasaman Setayeshpour, Ph.D., found that bezafibrate restores cancer cell sensitivity to ferroptosis when ascites is present, although the drug alone does not induce cell death or slow tumor growth in mice. This discovery highlights the importance of the tumor's environment in cancer progression and suggests that targeting this environment could enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments. 
