University of São Paulo researchers find cancer drugs combat malaria

Researchers at the University of São Paulo (FCF-USP) have identified that molecules traditionally used in cancer treatment show promise in combating Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for approximately 90% of malaria fatalities.

The study, funded by FAPESP, tested 14 compounds derived from antineoplastic drugs on laboratory-grown parasites. The results demonstrated that these molecules effectively eliminate the parasite during two distinct stages of its life cycle: the asexual phase, which causes clinical symptoms like fever in humans, and the gametocyte phase, which allows the parasite to infect mosquito vectors.

This drug repurposing strategy offers a potentially faster and more cost-effective method for developing new therapies, addressing the growing resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to existing treatments such as chloroquine and artemisinin. While the laboratory results are encouraging, researchers noted that further investigation is required to address potential side effects.