Montelukast Repurposed for Cancer Immunotherapy
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported May 19, 2026 · Last updated May 20, 2026
The discovery of Montelukast's potential in cancer treatment could significantly impact the pharmaceutical industry, particularly companies involved in oncology and immunology. The rapid progression to clinical trials, facilitated by the United States — Food and Drug Administration's prior approval, suggests a potentially accelerated market entry for this repurposed drug, affecting stock prices of relevant pharmaceutical firms. This could also lead to increased investment in cancer research and drug repurposing strategies.
Northwestern University scientists, led by Dr. Bin Zhang (scientist), have discovered that the molecule CysLTR1 plays a crucial role in helping aggressive cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer, evade the immune system. They found that tumors exploit CysLTR1 to increase immune-suppressing neutrophils, which protect cancer cells from immunotherapy. By blocking CysLTR1, either genetically or with the existing FDA-approved asthma drug Montelukast (also known as Singulair), researchers were able to slow tumor growth, improve survival, and restore the immune system's ability to fight cancer in various mouse models. This breakthrough, published in Nature Cancer, suggests that Montelukast could be quickly moved into clinical trials for cancer patients, offering a new and practical approach to improve immunotherapy outcomes, especially for tough-to-treat cancers. The study was partially funded by the United States — National Cancer Institute and the United States — National Institutes of Health.
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