Fact Check: Can Nicotine cure glioblastoma tumors in less than 72 hours?

An Instagram reel claims that Nicotine cures glioblastoma tumors in less than 72 hours. The claim by the user is FALSE.

Claim

In an Instagram reel, it is claimed that Nicotine cures glioblastoma tumors in less than 72 hours. In the reel, the user kathykatz_27 says, "Why aren't any neurologist telling you about nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine vegetables? There's a reason. And then did you know also that it's been proven to cure glioblastoma tumors in less than 72 hours, they can dissolve it just using two doses of nicotine intravenously over a 72-hour period. Well, are there oncologists using nicotine intravenously to reverse glioblastoma, which represents half of all brain tumors right now being diagnosed and called turbo cancers? And if not, why not? How come we can go find this information in the published medical literature, we can show you what they published and what they found and how come science found in labs and peer-reviewed and approved and published. How come it doesn't make its way into the sight and ears and clinics and medical professionals around the world? Type 1 diabetes is cured with nicotine just so you know we can show you the studies. And then autism in adults and in teenagers, they have found the violent behavior they often express, the antisocial behavior within 7 days of a 7 mg nicotine patch."

The reel has 43,647 likes and can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim by the user is FALSE. There is no scientific evidence or medical consensus supporting the user’s claim, and nicotine use is associated with harmful effects. 

What are Glioblastoma Tumors?

Glioblastoma Tumor is an aggressive and fast-growing brain tumor that originates from star-shaped glial cells called astrocytes. It primarily affects the cerebral hemispheres—especially the frontal and temporal lobes—and can either develop spontaneously (de novo) or progress from lower-grade astrocytomas. Although Glioblastoma rarely spread to other organs, they invade surrounding brain tissue, making treatment difficult. If left untreated, Glioblastoma can lead to death within six months, underscoring the urgency of specialized neuro-oncological and neurosurgical intervention.

The treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) typically begins with surgery to remove as much of the tumor as safely as possible, aiming to reduce tumor burden, relieve intracranial pressure, and enhance the effectiveness of subsequent therapies. Despite aggressive surgical resection, GBMs cannot be completely removed due to their infiltrative nature. Post-surgical treatment includes radiation therapy, which targets residual tumor cells with daily doses over several weeks, and concurrent chemotherapy with temozolomide, followed by maintenance cycles. Advanced techniques like intraoperative brain mapping and image-guided surgery optimize outcomes. Additional therapies such as tumor treating fields, lomustine, and bevacizumab may be introduced, especially in recurrent cases, to prolong survival and improve quality of life.

What is Nicotine?

Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical compound naturally found in the tobacco plant. It is present in all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, hookah, heated tobacco products, and most e-cigarettes. Nicotine quickly reaches the brain, altering its function and triggering cravings, which can lead to dependence. Some products are specifically engineered to enhance nicotine delivery and absorption, making addiction more likely and quitting more difficult.

What are the Harmful Effects of Nicotine?

Nicotine is highly addictive and keeps people from using tobacco products that contain toxic chemicals. The harm from nicotine depends on how it is delivered: combustible tobacco products like cigarettes are the most dangerous due to the thousands of harmful chemicals released when burned. Nicotine is widely recognized for its significant systemic side effects, beyond its strong addictive properties. It negatively impacts the heart, lungs, kidneys, reproductive system, and more. Numerous studies have consistently shown its potential to cause cancer.

Can Nicotine cure glioblastoma tumors in less than 72 hours? 

While nicotine may interact with brain cells and may have certain effects, no scientific evidence or medical consensus supports its use as an effective treatment let alone a cure for glioblastoma, particularly over a short period. Moreover, nicotine poses several health risks, so its use should not be promoted.

In fact, Nicotine has been shown in some cases to influence tumor growth negatively and behavior by interacting with specific receptors in the body. A new study by Susanna Pucci and her team explored how certain brain tumor cells behave and grow. The study found that nicotinic receptors may play a role in making these brain tumors more aggressive.

Nicotine use during glioblastoma treatment may interfere with the effectiveness of therapy by making the cancer more aggressive and harder to treat. A study published in The European Society of Medicine indicates that ongoing use of nicotine-containing products, including smoking, during glioblastoma treatment may promote greater tumor aggressiveness and invasiveness. This continued nicotine exposure could potentially contribute to treatment resistance by stimulating the survival and spread of residual tumor cells.

Although nicotine may affect brain cells, no scientific evidence or medical consensus supports its use to treat or cure glioblastoma, and it carries significant health risks.

Responding to the claim Dr Rahul Chawla, Associate Consultant, Department of Neurology, PSRI Hospitals, New Delhi said, "Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant brain tumors, requiring a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Suggesting that a compound like nicotine — primarily known for its addictive and toxic properties — can eliminate such a complex malignancy in a matter of days is not only scientifically inaccurate but also potentially dangerous.

Nicotine interacts with receptors in the brain, and while some lab-based research has explored its effects on cancer cells, this has not translated into any safe or effective treatment for glioblastoma. In fact, nicotine’s overall influence in cancer biology is far from beneficial — it can promote tumor growth and impair immune response in certain contexts.

From a doctor's point of view, there is no approved role for nicotine in treating glioblastoma and encouraging patients to pursue nicotine as a “cure” risks delaying critical, evidence-based therapies and may worsen outcomes. This kind of misinformation can erode trust in the medical system and expose vulnerable patients to harm.

Nicotine does not cure glioblastoma — not in 72 hours, not at all. Relying on such false claims can be life-threatening. Always seek guidance from qualified medical professionals when dealing with complex conditions like brain tumors."

Dr Sohet Gogia, Consultant, Neurosurgery, Neurosciences, Medanta Hospital, Gurugram further said, "No, nicotine cannot cure glioblastoma in 72 hours—or at all. Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer requiring multimodal treatment like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. There’s no scientific evidence supporting nicotine as a cure. In fact, nicotine is a neurotoxin and may even promote tumor growth in some cancers. Such claims are misleading and potentially dangerous."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

There is no scientific evidence or medical consensus that nicotine cures glioblastoma—especially not in 72 hours. On the contrary, nicotine has been shown to potentially worsen cancer prognosis in some contexts.

Hence, the claim by the user is False.