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Decades-Old Blood Pressure Pill Shows Promise in Fighting Deadly Brain Cancer
18 Nov
Summary
- Link found between high blood pressure and glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer
- Hydralazine, a common blood pressure medication, may be able to fight glioblastoma
- Hydralazine blocks an enzyme that allows glioblastoma cells to thrive in low-oxygen environments
In a significant scientific breakthrough, researchers have uncovered a potential new treatment for glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. The key lies in a common blood pressure medication called hydralazine, which has been used for over 70 years to manage high blood pressure.
According to the study, published in Science Advances, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have found that hydralazine could be effective in fighting glioblastoma. This fast-growing brain tumor typically kills half of patients within 14 months of diagnosis, with only 5% surviving for five years.
