Heart drug may fight prostate cancer

Digitalis users less likely to develop the malignancy

ORLANDO, Fla. — A long-standing drug for heart failure might find new utility as a treatment for prostate cancer, a new study finds.

Digitalis, also called digoxin, is derived from the foxglove plant and has a lengthy medical history. Its role as a treatment for heart failure and heart arrhythmia has declined in recent years with the advent of newer drugs, but it remains an option for patients.