Lung Cancer Prevention by Myo-Inositol

Evidence for Myo-Inositol in Lung Cancer Prevention

• Myo-inositol inhibits the PI3K pathway that is activated in bronchial epithelial cells of smokers with dysplasia, which correlates with regression of bronchial dysplasia 1, 2, 3
• Animal studies demonstrate that myo-inositol inhibits carcinogenesis by 40-50% in both the induction and postinitiation phases 1, 2, 3
• When combined with budesonide, efficacy increases to up to 80% in preclinical models 1, 2, 3

Clinical Investigation Status

• The American College of Chest Physicians guidelines (2013) describe myo-inositol as having low toxicity and promising preclinical and phase 1 data 1, 2, 3
• An ongoing phase 2b randomized placebo-controlled trial is evaluating myo-inositol's chemopreventive effect in smokers with bronchial dysplasia at high risk of lung cancer, including those at risk for second primary lung cancer 1, 2, 3

Target Population

• Smokers at high risk for lung cancer are the target population for myo-inositol lung cancer prevention 1, 2, 3
• Patients with bronchial dysplasia may benefit from myo-inositol treatment 1, 2, 3
• Individuals at risk for second primary lung cancer may also be considered for myo-inositol treatment 1, 2, 3

Important Clinical Caveats

• Myo-inositol for lung cancer prevention remains investigational and is not yet recommended for routine clinical use outside of well-designed clinical trials 1, 2, 3
• The evidence base is limited to preclinical studies and early-phase clinical trials 1, 2, 3
• Myo-inositol is found naturally in whole grains, seeds, and fruits and is an essential nutrient required by human cells for growth and survival 1, 2, 3