Feeling unusually tired is something most people experience at some point. It is easy to blame a demanding schedule, stress, or a lack of sleep. But sometimes the body's subtle warning signs point to something far more serious.
According to researchers at the University of Calgary, an unexpected candidate may offer new hope for patients facing glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat brain cancers.
Their work, recently highlighted in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology, suggests that vitamin B3 could help the body's immune system respond more effectively to the disease, reports Science Daily.
A different approach
Glioblastoma remains one of the biggest challenges in cancer treatment. Despite advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, patient outcomes have changed little over the past two decades.
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Researchers Gloria Roldan Urgoiti and Wee Yong have been exploring whether high doses of niacin, a form of vitamin B3, can help restore the activity of immune cells that are often suppressed by brain tumors.
The idea first emerged from laboratory research, where scientists observed encouraging results in preclinical studies. Those findings eventually led to a clinical trial involving human patients.
Better than expected
The ongoing Phase I-II trial combines controlled-release niacin with standard glioblastoma treatment.
Early data from the first 24 participants have drawn attention. Researchers reported that 82 percent of patients showed no signs of disease progression six months after treatment began, exceeding the target established before the study started.
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Scientists believe niacin may help reactivate immune cells, allowing them to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.
Hope with caution
Researchers stress that the findings are still preliminary and that glioblastoma remains an incurable disease.
They also warn against self-medicating with high-dose vitamins, noting that excessive niacin intake can cause serious side effects and should only be used under medical supervision.
The trial is continuing, with additional patients being enrolled before a final analysis is completed. While much work remains, the early results suggest that a familiar vitamin could become part of a new strategy against one of the world's deadliest brain cancers.
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