1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Methadone may fight cancer: German researchers

October 28, 2019

Scientists at the University of Ulm said on Monday that methadone may be able to help in the fight against cancer. The heroin substitute could make tumors more responsive to chemotherapy.

A doctor gives an injection
Image: Imago Images/Westend61/A. Brookes

Researchers at the German University of Ulm claim that the opioid methadone may be key in treating cancerous tumors.

The controversial idea has been discussed in the research department of the university hospital for several months. This news means that scientists have received the adequate backing and funding to investigate more clearly the possible effects of the drug.

"Our hypothesis is that methadone can make tumors more sensitive to chemotherapy," Professor Thomas Seufferlein told the Südwest Presse local daily in Ulm.

Seufferlin, the medical director of the university hospital, believes that methadone may be especially effective in combating intestinal cancer.

Read more: Fighting cancer with methadone — making chemotherapy more powerful

Methadone is an opioid which is often used to treat people with heroin addiction.

The therapy study will see whether methadone is effective in removing cancerous tumors. The German Cancer Aid organization is funding the project with €1.6 million.

The impact of a cancer diagnosis

04:29

This browser does not support the video element.

The scientists are expected to announce the results of their research project in 2020.

dpa contributed to this report

Every evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.

Elliot Douglas Elliot Douglas is a video, audio and online journalist based in Berlin.
Skip next section Explore more
Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW