Common blood pressure pill may improve some cancer treatments

A Dartmouth preclinical study reported that telmisartan, an FDA‑approved blood pressure drug, increased tumor DNA damage signals and type I interferon production and enhanced response to the PARP inhibitor olaparib in lab and animal models. Dartmouth researchers have opened two clinical trials testing telmisartan combined with cancer therapies in advanced prostate and ovarian cancers.

Researchers at Dartmouth Health reported that telmisartan, a commonly used blood pressure drug, increased markers of tumor DNA damage and immune activation in laboratory and animal models. The research examined telmisartan in combination with the PARP inhibitor olaparib and found changes in tumor biology that appeared to make some cancers more responsive to treatment. The work was published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer and was described by the lead author as showing potentially useful anti‑cancer effects of an inexpensive, well‑tolerated drug. Outside experts noted the findings are early because the evidence comes primarily from preclinical studies. Key points: - Telmisartan is FDA‑approved for treating hypertension and reducing certain cardiovascular risks. - In lab and animal models, combining telmisartan with olaparib increased type I interferon signals and markers of DNA damage in tumors. - Telmisartan was associated with reduced PD‑L1 levels in tumor cells, and other angiotensin II receptor blockers did not show the same effects in this study. - The study is preclinical and did not include human patient outcome data. - Dartmouth investigators have initiated two clinical trials testing telmisartan combined with cancer therapies in advanced prostate cancer and in ovarian cancer no longer responsive to platinum chemotherapy. Summary: The preclinical results suggest telmisartan can alter tumor immune signals and molecular features in ways that improved response to a PARP inhibitor in laboratory and animal models. The evidence to date is limited to preclinical work, and human benefit is undetermined at this time. Clinical trials now underway aim to evaluate safety and possible effectiveness of the combination in people, and further study will be needed to establish clinical relevance.