DR AARON Nolan, Postdoctoral Researcher and lecturer in Microbiology, Dr Merve Zeden, Assistant Professor in Microbiology, Professor James O’Gara, Professor of Microbiology, and Sarah Byrne, PhD Researcher in Microbiology. Photo Credit: Andrew Downes, Xposure.

Galway study finds anti-cancer drugs may help fight MRSA

Researchers find a special link

Published: Wed 9 Sep 2026, 1:00 PM

Scientists from University of Galway have discovered a link between anti-cancer drugs and antibiotics, that may potentially offer a new approach to tackling superbug infections.

The research team set out to find new ways to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – also known as MRSA infections, using drugs that are currently ineffective due to antibiotic resistance.

The study carried out by researchers Dr Aaron Nolan, Sarah Byrne, Dr Merve Zeden and Professor James O’Gara from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, investigated whether a range of anti-cancer drugs could help penicillin-type antibiotics, which are among the most widely used antibiotics, to become effective again.

The team tested five anti-cancer drugs and revealed that four of them (5-fluorouracil; 5-fluororidine; gemcitabine; and mitomycin C) helped penicillin-type antibiotics to kill MRSA. These drugs interfere with the bacteria’s ability to make DNA, making the bacteria more vulnerable to the antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance crisis

A fifth anti-cancer drug which was tested (6-thioguanine) had the opposite effect and reduced the effectiveness of the antibiotics. Although this drug also affects DNA production in MRSA, it works in a different way, which may explain the different effects.

Dr Aaron Nolan, Postdoctoral Researcher and lecturer in Microbiology said that the discoveries highlight the “importance of carefully prescribing the most appropriate antibiotic in patients undergoing chemotherapy”.

PhD Researcher in Microbiology, Sarah Byrne believes that the antibiotic resistance crisis is one of the world’s most urgent health challenges.

“These findings are particularly important for patients with cancer who may need treatment for bacterial infections while also taking chemotherapy drugs,” said Sarah Byrne.

“Our findings suggest that certain drugs originally developed for cancer treatment may have the potential to be repurposed alongside antibiotics,” commented Dr Merve Zeden, Assistant Professor in Microbiology.

“This could offer a new strategy to re-sensitise bacteria that have become resistant to existing treatments,” he added.

Professor of Microbiology at University of Galway, James O’Gara is excited by the discovery saying it advances their long-term goal of finding new ways to boost the effectiveness of existing antibiotics rather than developing completely new ones.

To read the full research, visit: www.journals.asm.org.