Mefenamic acid and cancer: what we published in August 2023

August brought a single deep look at mefenamic acid and its surprising role in cancer research. The post focused on lab evidence suggesting this common NSAID might affect cancer cells, while also flagging real safety concerns — especially liver issues. If you're curious whether this painkiller could double as a cancer drug, here's a clear, practical summary of what we found and what to watch for.

What the research showed

Researchers mostly worked in labs and animal models, not large human trials. A small in vitro study described in our post reported that mefenamic acid slowed growth and triggered cell death in certain cancer cell lines. Another animal study hinted at tumor-size reduction when mefenamic acid was combined with standard chemotherapy. Those results are interesting, but they're early-stage: lab and animal responses often don't match what happens in people.

On the flip side, some studies linked mefenamic acid to liver stress in a subset of patients. Case reports document liver enzyme spikes and, rarely, acute liver injury after regular or high-dose use. That risk seems small overall, but it's concrete and worth taking seriously—especially if you already have liver disease or take other liver-active drugs.

Safety, risks, and practical advice

If you take mefenamic acid for pain, don’t assume it helps cancer. The current evidence isn’t strong enough to recommend it as a cancer treatment. Don’t change your meds without chatting with your oncologist or primary doctor.

Watch for warning signs that suggest liver trouble: yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, itchy skin, unusual fatigue, nausea, or persistent stomach pain. If you notice any of these, stop the drug and call your doctor. Also avoid mixing mefenamic acid with blood thinners (like warfarin) or other NSAIDs without medical advice—combining them raises bleeding and kidney-risk.

Pregnant or breastfeeding? Skip mefenamic acid unless your doctor says otherwise. Same for people with active peptic ulcers, significant kidney disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure—NSAIDs can make these worse.

What’s next? Expect more lab work and small clinical studies first. Researchers need to confirm which cancer types, doses, and treatment combinations might be helpful, and whether benefits outweigh harms in real patients.

If you want to read the original post from August 2023, it walks through the lab findings, lists the reported side effects, and explains why careful clinical trials are required before anyone considers using mefenamic acid as part of cancer care. Questions about your medications? Ask your healthcare provider—they can put research into the context of your medical history and current treatments.