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Talcum powder(1) has been used for generations(2) to soothe(3) babies’ diaper rash(4) and freshen(5) women’s faces. But University of Florida researchers report the household product(6) has an additional(7) healing power(8): The ability to stunt(9) cancer growth(10) by cutting the flow of blood(11) to metastatic(12) lung tumors(13).

The study, published in(14) the European Respiratory(15) Journal in April, reveals(16) that talc(17) stimulates(18) healthy cells to produce endostatin(19), a hormone(20) considered the magic bullet(21) for treating metastatic lung cancer. The UF researchers say talc is an exciting new therapeutic agent(22) for a cancer largely considered incurable(23).

“We found, to our surprise(24), that talc causes tumor growth to slow down(25) and actually decreases the tumor bulk(26),” said Dr. Veena Antony, a professor of pulmonary medicine(27) and chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine(28) at UF’s College of Medicine. “Talc is able to prevent the formation of blood vessels(29), thereby(30) killing the tumor and choking off(31) its growth. The tumors appeared to grow much slower and in some cases completely disappeared.”

Scientists have only recently discovered that talcum powder stunts tumor growth, though the mineral(32) has been used for almost 70 years to treat the respiratory problems that accompany(33) metastatic lung cancer. About half of all patients accumulate(34) fluid(35) around the surface of the lungs, a condition known as malignant pleural effusion(36).