A recent study published in the Journal of Cancer Immunotherapy last March showed that a common drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration may enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy directed at eliminating cancer cells.
The study, which was conducted in its initial clinical stages at the Dartmouth Cancer Center in the United States, showed that the drug “telmisartan”, approved for the treatment of high blood pressure, may significantly contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of the targeted therapy “olaparib”, which is used to eliminate cancer cells.
Olaparib is a PARP inhibitor, as it works to inactivate enzymes responsible for DNA repair within cancer cells, making them more susceptible to damage and death.
This treatment is used in a number of cancers, including ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer, as a supportive treatment after responding to chemotherapy, in addition to some cases of breast, pancreas, and prostate cancer.
On the other hand, “telmisartan” is mainly used to treat high blood pressure, and it also contributes to reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and is available under multiple brand names.
According to the study, Olaparib drugs work by targeting weaknesses in damaged DNA repair mechanisms within some cancer cells, and are more effective in tumors that suffer from a defect in repairing damage through the homologous recombination mechanism.
Tyler J. Curiel, senior author of the study and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, explained that using a common, safe, low-cost drug may significantly enhance the efficiency of an important class of cancer treatments. He noted that his team discovered that telmisartan increases the sensitivity of tumors to PARP inhibitors, which increases their ability to target DNA defects in cancer cells.
In pre-clinical trials, the combination of telmisartan and olaparib increased DNA damage within cancer cells, in addition to stimulating a strong immune response. This combination enhanced the production of type 1 interferons, which are molecules that help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
Curiel added: “This immune activation appears to be the main reason for the success of this combination, as the drug reduced the levels of PD-L1 within cancer cells, a protein that cancer cells use to evade immune attack – which increased its therapeutic potential.”
Available and safe treatment
Tyler J. Curiel explained that telmisartan has multiple anti-cancer properties, and when used alongside targeted therapies, it can increase the response of tumors to various types of treatments. He also pointed out that there is evidence to support its ability to enhance the effectiveness of a number of chemotherapy and immunological treatments in different types of cancer through similar mechanisms.
The study showed that “Telmisartan” is characterized by good bioavailability when taken orally, in addition to a high level of safety and ease of tolerability, even in people who do not have high blood pressure, which makes it a promising option for future clinical applications.
Exceptional future experiences
The research team led by Tyler J. Curiel at Dartmouth Cancer Center continues to test this strategy through two ongoing clinical trials in patients.
One of the two trials focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of this drug combination in men with metastatic prostate cancer resistant to hormone therapy, where the results showed, according to Curiel, “an exceptional response.” On the other hand, the second trial is being conducted on ovarian cancer cases resistant to treatment with platinum drugs.
Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf El-Sisi, a consultant oncologist and member of the European and American Oncology Societies, believes that any progress that contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of cancer treatments, especially in cases that are difficult or resistant to treatment, would raise recovery rates and reduce death rates associated with the disease.
He added to Al Jazeera Net that the ongoing clinical trials on the drug telmisartan have shown positive results in patients with prostate cancer that is not responsive to hormone therapy, as well as in patients with ovarian cancer resistant to treatment with platinum drugs, which may contribute to enhancing the response and reducing the resistance of tumors to PARP inhibitors, as well as improving the effectiveness of immunotherapies.
He pointed out that despite these promising indicators, there is still a need for expanded clinical studies and a more in-depth analysis of the results to confirm the effectiveness of this approach and ensure that it is free of serious complications.
He pointed out that this drug may represent an important option in treating cases that are intractable or resistant to current treatments, especially those associated with specific genetic changes, as it may help in overcoming the resistance mechanisms of cancer cells to targeted and immunological treatments through its direct effects on them.