Low-Dose Naltrexone for Cancer: Case Series and Human Studies (2026)
Introduction: Can Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) Play a Role in Cancer Treatment? Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has emerged as one of the most discussed repurposed drugs in integrative oncology—drawing attention from researchers, clinicians, and patients seeking safer, adjunctive cancer therapies. Originally developed as a high-dose medication to treat opioid and alcohol dependence, naltrexone behaves very differently when used at much lower doses (typically 1–5 mg daily), triggering unique biological effects that may influence cancer biology. Unlike conventional chemotherapy, which directly targets rapidly dividing cells, LDN appears to work through indirect mechanisms—modulating the immune system, altering inflammatory pathways, and influencing cellular signaling involved in tumor growth. One of the most studied mechanisms involves the opioid growth factor (OGF)–opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) axis , a regulatory pathway that plays a key role in controlling cell proliferation. By transie...