High Blood Pressure Drugs Block Cancer Metastasis

Calcium channel blockers that are designed to lower blood pressure may also block the spread of breast and pancreatic cancer cells, according to a recent study.

For the past several years, a team of investigators focused on gaining a better understanding of how cancer cells move and invade surrounding tissue. Through this research, the investigators identified the expression of Myosin-10 in aggressive cancer cells, which drives cancer cell motility.

Cancers that express Myosin-10 have a large number of structures called filopodia. Cancer cells extend these finger-like structures to sense their environment and navigate around, according to the authors.

In a new study published in Nature Communications, investigators found that calcium channel blockers specifically target the sticky fingers and render them inactive, blocking cancer cell movement.

The findings suggest that calcium channel blocker drugs may be effective against cancer metastasis, but more research needs to be done, the authors noted.

Using pre-clinical models and by analyzing patient data, the investigators are currently assessing the efficacy of calcium channel blockers in stopping the spread of breast and pancreatic cancer.