Could Botox be used to treat cancer?

More people than ever are using cosmetic surgery to achieve their desired appearance; with statistics from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons showing that professionals conducted at least 50,000 procedures last year.

Although many of these operations included such surgeries as rhinoplasty, liposuction, and other augmentations, they likely pale in comparison to the number of Botox procedures. Recently, clinics – including botonics – have seen increases in the number of men purchasing these injections to make themselves look younger and healthier.

The advantages of Botox are apparent, able to make wrinkles as well as frown lines appear less noticeable while helping to eliminate problems such as underarm sweating. However, recent claims from the NHS Website suggest that Botox could be an effective way to treat stomach cancers.

Botox’s effect on stomach cancer

Appearing on the NHS Choices website, this article evaluated a study conducted by researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as other institutions located in countries such as Germany and Japan.

Published in the Science Translational Medicine journal, the researchers tested the properties of Botox on mice genetically modified to develop stomach cancers in later life.

To summarise the experiment, the animals were divided into various groups and one set was injected with Botox to determine if the treatment hindered cancer growth. Several months after the procedure, the mice were still suffering from this illness. However, there appeared to be a reduction in the size of tumours as well as the number of cancerous cells. In fact, it was claimed that Botox had shrunk the tumours by around 50%.

Could Botox be used to fight cancer cells?

Although these results are certainly interesting, this experiment was only conducted on mice and it will take years to evaluate Botox’s effect on cancer cells. Fortunately, basic human trials are underway, but the results aren’t expected until 2016.

Furthermore, even if stomach cancer can be treated with Botox injections, sufferers won’t be able to use this remedy in the immediate future.

Therefore, although this is certainly a positive study, it is too early to begin making definitive conclusions. Instead, the results of the human trials will help give a more accurate assessment.

To find out more information about this study, please consult the NHS Choices website.