Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that hydralazine, a common blood pressure medication, may also slow cancer growth. Hydralazine, used since the 1950s, was found to block an enzyme called 2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (ADO), which is crucial for blood vessel constriction. By inhibiting ADO, hydralazine not only reduces blood pressure but also disrupts the growth of aggressive brain tumors, like glioblastoma, by stabilizing certain proteins that prevent tumor cells from thriving in low-oxygen environments.
The research team, led by Kyosuke Shishikura and Megan Matthews, published their findings in Science Advances. They discovered that hydralazine could trigger cellular senescence in cancer cells, effectively pausing their growth without causing inflammation or resistance. This discovery opens new avenues for cancer treatment, particularly in designing drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier to target tumors more effectively.
In addition to brain cancer, hydralazine’s potential in treating breast cancer is being explored. Studies have shown that when combined with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), hydralazine can inhibit cancer cell proliferation by affecting key genes involved in cancer pathways. This combination therapy could offer a promising strategy for treating breast cancer with minimized side effects.
As researchers continue to investigate hydralazine’s capabilities, the goal is to develop more targeted treatments that exploit its newly discovered properties, potentially offering safer and more effective options for both cancer and hypertension patients.
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