MSM has been noted to regulate the cell cycle and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in certain cell types, and this has led to the idea that it could be an effective way to either slow the growth of or induce cell death in cancer cells.
MSM may be useful in the treatment of certain types of breast cancer, particularly human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer. In vitro studies have shown that MSM could slow cell growth and increase cell death in breast cancer cells. It might also improve the effectiveness of some chemotherapy agents used in breast cancer, such as tamoxifen and herceptin.[1][2][3]
MSM may have similar effects on prostate cancer cells, because it has been found to induce cell death and slow down the cellular reproduction cycle, and it may reduce the ability of the cells to invade surrounding tissues.[4] These findings have been replicated for lung cancer[5] and liver cancer.[6] It is important to remember that these are preliminary studies done in vitro, and more research, including clinical trials, will need to be done to confirm the efficacy of MSM as a treatment for cancer.