Research Radartracking 4 published studies · 1 human · 2 clinical trials · 2 cancer pages · updated Jun 2026Open the Research Map →

Methylene Blue

Redox dye: ETC bypass, ROS modulation, ¹O₂ PDT/SDT generator; preclinical promise in ovarian/breast/lung/colorectal.

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Human-reviewed · How we review →

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🔬⭐⭐ Preclinical — Robust cell/animal data; growing early-phase clinical experience in PDT/SDT settings.MBMethylthioninium chlorideProvayBlue

Forms: IV solution (0.5% for medical use) · Oral capsules (10-50 mg for adjunct)

Educational only, not medical advice. OncoForge makes no claim that Methylene Blue treats, prevents, or cures any condition, beyond what the linked studies show. Evidence levels vary; effects may not translate to people, and some compounds can cause harm. Always coordinate with your oncology team.

Key Takeaway

Ancient redox dye that can shuttle electrons to bypass ETC defects and, when light/ultrasound-activated, generates singlet oxygen to kill tumor cells; compelling preclinical data with emerging clinical use in PDT/SDT.

Evidence at a glance

Tier 1 · labOvarianBreastLungColorectal

Strong in vitro/animal PDT/SDT data; phase I/II signals in skin/oral cancers; redox adjunct emerging in neurodegeneration but oncology limited to photosensitization.

How it may work

MB accepts/donates electrons (MB⁺/leucomethylene blue), supporting mitochondrial respiration when Complex I/III are impaired. As a photo/sono-sensitizer, excited MB transfers energy to O₂ to form ¹O₂, driving lipid/protein/DNA oxidation → apoptosis/necrosis. It modulates ROS and can synergize with other oxidant therapies.

Targets & pathways

Curated mechanistic targets reported for this agent — how it may act on cells, not proof of a clinical effect.

  • Redox Cycling↑Electron shuttle between oxidized/reduced forms
  • ETCBypassSupports respiration in impaired complexes I/III
  • ¹O₂↑PDT/SDT-mediated generation for oxidative damage
  • ROSModContext-dependent antioxidant/pro-oxidant
  • Apoptosis↑Downstream of oxidation and mitochondrial stress
Redox CyclingETC Bypass¹O₂

Often studied / combined with

Combinations reported in the literature, not a protocol or a recommendation.

Overlapping mechanisms

Safety & interactions

Severity and how well-established each signal is are shown separately. Verify everything with your oncologist or pharmacist — absence here does not mean safe.

Risk categories
MethemoglobinemiaDiscolorationSerotonin Syndrome
Potential interactions
  • serotonergicsCautionModerateTheoreticalMAOI-like effects at high doses.
  • oxidant_therapiesSynergizeLowTheoreticalAmplifies ROS in PDT contexts.
  • CisplatinSynergizeLowTheoreticalEnhanced oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Timing

References

Research

No published studies for Methylene Blue yet

New studies appear here once they’ve been reviewed. Browse all studies.

Dose: as studied, not a recommendation

These are doses as studied or reported, never a recommendation. The right amount of Methylene Blue depends on you, your other medicines, and your situation; decide it with your oncology team and pharmacist, not from a web page.

Ranges seen in adjunct / practice use: 1–7 mg/kg IV (PDT) (IV/oral) With light/ultrasound activation; oral 10-50 mg/day adjunct, PDT/SDT: 1-2 mg/kg IV pre-illumination; low-dose oral 15-60 mg/day for redox support; titrate to avoid methemoglobinemia..

Trials studying Methylene Blue

Loading current trials from ClinicalTrials.gov… Search ClinicalTrials.gov →

Inclusion here is not an endorsement. OncoForge makes no claim beyond what the linked studies show. Discuss anything on this page with your oncology team before acting on it.

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