Researchers Find Class of NSAIDs Stop Growth of Vestibular Schwannomas

In a recent study, conducted by researchers from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear and the Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, a class of non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), called salicylates, reduced the proliferation and viability of cultured vestibular schwannoma cells that cause a sometimes lethal intracranial tumor. The research, published in the journal Translational Research, used pre-clinical data based on cultured primary vestibular schwannoma cells, and combined it with previously published work on aspirin intake that correlated with halted growth of vestibular schwannomas. Currently, patients with symptomatic or growing vestibular schwannomas can undergo surgical resection or radiotherapy. Both of these procedures can result in serious complications. Effective drug therapies that can limit growth would greatly advance health care for these patients. Salicylates are attractive therapeutics because they are clinically relevant, well-tolerated and commonly used against pathologies such as pain and arthritis. Furthermore, in some cases, chronic intake of salicylates has led to a significant reduction in the incidence and burden of various tumors, such as colorectal cancer. To read more about this study, click here.