Common drugs used to treat anemia may also slow the growth of cancer cells, according to new research from Finland. Researchers from the University of Oulu and the University of Eastern Finland discovered that these drugs affect cell metabolism and growth in ways previously unknown. The findings suggest the drugs could benefit cancer patients who often suffer from anemia, potentially dealing with two problems at once.
The drugs, known as HIF-PHIs, are currently used to help patients with chronic kidney disease produce more red blood cells. They work by stabilizing proteins that help cells respond to low oxygen levels. However, the research team led by Professor Thomas Kietzmann from the Hypoxia and Extracellular Matrix Research Unit at the University of Oulu together with a team from the University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio) found that the drugs also affect cell growth and blood vessel formation even when these specific oxygen-sensing proteins are not present.
This was amazing. We expected the drugs to work only through the normal oxygen pathway. Instead, we saw that they could stop cell growth and prevent new blood vessels from forming on their own. This changes the way we understand what these drugs do in the body.”
Professor Thomas Kietzmann, Hypoxia and Extracellular Matrix Research Unit, University of Oulu
New hope for cancer patients
The findings open up new possibilities for cancer treatment. Many cancer patients suffer from anemia caused by the tumor or chemotherapy. Currently, treating anemia and fighting the tumor are separate goals. This study suggests that these approved drugs could potentially help with both.
“Since these drugs can inhibit tumor growth while simultaneously treating anemia, combining them with classical chemotherapy could improve overall outcomes,” explains Kietzmann. “This is an important opportunity to help patients with both conditions at the same time.”
A call for clinical collaboration
The research team is now seeking clinical partners to test these findings in patients. The researchers stress that while the laboratory results are promising, they need to be validated in a clinical setting.
“We have the mechanistic data, but now we need the clinical expertise to move forward,” says Kietzmann. “We encourage oncologists and clinicians interested in tumor anemia to collaborate with us. Initiating clinical trials could reveal a dual benefit for patients. This is exactly the kind of teamwork that can transform patient care.”
The study was published in the prestigious journal Redox Biology. Financial support for the research was provided by the Research Council of Finland (SA356920), the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation (210031) and the Research Council of Finland funding decision Profi PROFI6 336449 “Fibrous weight”.
