Grapefruit Cuts Cost of Cancer Drug

The immune-suppressing drug sirolimus is a lifeline for patients with organ transplants. It prevents the body from rejecting the transplanted organ. Sirolimus is also being used experimentally to treat certain cancers. The trouble is, the drug is very expensive and can cause side effects at the higher doses used in cancer treatment.
A new study from the University of Chicago suggests that a daily glass of grapefruit juice can dramatically increase blood levels of sirolimus and reduce the amount of medicine required by two thirds. Grapefruit slows metabolism of the medication to achieve blood levels that are more than three times higher.
This is not a do-it-yourself project, however. People taking sirolimus must have blood levels of the drug monitored carefully to make sure they are getting the optimal dose. Many other drugs also interact with grapefruit, so it is important to check with your pharmacist to determine whether your dose should be adjusted.

[Clinical Cancer Research, online Aug. 7, 2012]