Could the Abortion Pill Prevent Certain Cancers?

There may be another use for the abortion pill — aside from stirring up controversy. Researchers from the University of California–Irvine have found that mifepristone, a chemical compound found in the abortion pill, helps thwart the growth of mammary tumors that often lead to breast and ovarian cancers.

The study, which will be published in Science, found that mifepristone prevents tumors by inhibiting progesterone — a female hormone involved in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Progesterone has been found to encourage mammary cells to spread in women that carry a breast cancer gene and in some cases, ultimately lead to cancer.