Oncologists find that chlorhexidine effectively destroys bone cancer cells

Scientists from the University of Washington have found that disinfectant chlorhexidine gluconate is effective killing cancer cells during surgical treatment of bone tumors.

Scientists evaluated the effectiveness of several solutions used to remove residual chondrosarcoma and giant cell tumors after surgery, including saline, ethanol, povidone iodine, hydrogen peroxide and sterile water. They found that 0.05 per cent solution of chlorhexidine gluconate was the most effective, with treatment time (two or five minutes) not affecting its toxicity to cancer cells, The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

Some patients with bone cancer undergo a surgical procedure called intralesional curettage. During this procedure, the tumor is scraped off while preserving as much healthy bone as possible. At the end of the operation, the affected area is treated with a chemical solution to kill any remaining cancer cells. This is necessary to prevent tumor recurrence.

Note that chlorhexidine is a well-known disinfectant that is widely used, inexpensive, and has been shown to be safe in multiple studies. The researchers stress that further research is needed.