Common Blood Pressure Medication Strips Tumors of Immune Shield: what it means
Because telmisartan is already FDA-approved, it could potentially be repurposed to boost existing cancer immunotherapies much faster than developing fresh drugs from scratch. Laboratory tests showed the drug depleted PD-L1 in breast, colon, and ovarian cancer cells without harming healthy immune cells. The findings suggest this common heart medication might help unmask stubborn tumors, making them vulnerable to the body's natural defenses. Researchers have discovered that telmisartan, a widely prescribed medication for high blood pressure, can strip cancer cells of a critical defense mechanism that supports them hide from the immune system. The drug targets PD-L1, a protein that acts like an invisibility cloak on tumor surfaces, preventing immune cells from recognizing and attacking cancer. Unlike seven similar blood pressure medications tested, telmisartan uniquely triggers the destruction of this shield protein through a process that tags it for cellular garbage disposal.
https://jitc.bmj.com/content/14/3/e012426
