Anemia drugs slow tumor growth and provide double benefit for cancer patients

Typically, these drugs work by stabilizing proteins that help cells adapt to a lack of oxygen. However, scientists have found that the drugs affect cell growth and blood vessel formation even without the participation of these oxygen-sensing proteins.

According to scientists, the results came as a surprise to the team. Instead of the expected effect only through the “oxygen” mechanism, the drugs demonstrated the ability to suppress cell growth and interfere with the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to develop. The authors of the work believe that the discovery may be especially important for cancer patients, who often suffer from anemia due to the tumor or chemotherapy. In the future, such drugs may simultaneously help cope with both anemia and tumor growth.

The researchers are now looking for clinical partners to conduct trials on patients. Scientists emphasize that the results obtained have so far been confirmed only in laboratory conditions and require further testing in the clinic.