‘Water Pill’ Prevents Lung Cancer Drug Resistance

A new study has shown that combining lung cancer drugs with a commonly used blood pressure drug called ethacrynic acid, could make treatment more effective. The study was conducted by scientists from Fudan Unversity in China and Imperial College of London.

Erlotinib is a drug used to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The drug exploits a mutation of the epidermal growth factor receptor in these patients, blocking the receptor and preventing tumour growth.

Unfortunately, in about half the cases, the cancer cells become resistant to Erlotinib by developing a second mutation or developing a resistance to the drug.

In the study, the team showed that the resistance could be reversed using ethacrynic acid, a simple and cheap diuretic or ‘water pill’ that is used to treat swelling, fluid retention and high blood pressure.

The team is now working towards conducting human trials within the next three years and are seeking funding.

Read the full article from Asian Scientist here.


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