Researchers at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute have shown in laboratory studies, that Iitraconazole effectively halts the growth and progression of certain types of bowel cancer.
The next step will be to see if this holds true in patients with the disease. 
Dr Simon Buczacki, co-lead author and Cancer Research UK clinician scientist, said: “One of the biggest challenges in treating any cancer is the diversity of different cells within the same tumour. We’ve targeted a type of cell that lies asleep within bowel tumours, remaining unresponsive to treatment and putting the patient at risk of their cancer coming back”.
“What’s interesting is that this drug seems to kick both dormant and non-dormant cells into action,” added Dr Simon Buczacki. “It forces cells back into a short cycle of growth before slamming on an irreversible ‘stop’ button, entering a permanent standstill that’s known as senescence.”
Professor Greg Hannon, director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, said: “This innovative study has taken a step toward addressing one of the biggest challenges in cancer research. Tumours are made up of many different types of cancer cells, which can evolve separately and respond to treatments differently. They found that itraconazole closed signals from a path called Wnt, which involved the growth and spread of many cancers. With treatment, dormant cells disappeared and the tumour stopped growing”.